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OVER 200 boys and girls from varying communities throughout Trinidad converged at the Petrotrin Beach Camp Facility, Palo Seco, on Saturday, for the fourth edition of the Cox Coaching School Youth Invitational Football Tournament.

Hosted by club founder Dennis Cox and heavily supported by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, the day’s events featured a packed schedule of matches ranging from six and Under age groups to Under-15. At the lower groupings, the girls were given an opportunity to play alongside the boys in an effort to build their confidence and self-esteem and bring all communities together in friendly competition.

Also on hand to deliver a short motivational word to the youngsters was National women’s senior football team captain, Maylee Attin-Johnson, Justice of the Peace Kevin King, Petrotrin’s senior manager of Exploration and Production, Assistant Commissioner of Police Community Relations Enez Joseph, the division’s assistant superintendent Beverly Rodriguez, senior superintendent of South Western Division Police Nazrool Hosein and officer Keon Smith.

This year’s event saw teams from Crown Trace, Chaguanas; St Madeline; Marabella (Youth Crisis); Point Fortin (Civic Centre); Fyzabad; Gasparillo; Ralph Coaching School, along with Strikers and the hosts, come out in friendly rivalry for a day of football.

Speaking to the Cox Coaching School founder, Dennis, during the morning’s proceedings, he revealed that this tourney is being used as an avenue to unite young people within the many communities throughout TT , through the sport of football. “We just want them to really come out here and have fun, make new friends and always remember that we are all the same,” said Cox on Saturday.

“We have invited teams from all across the country because we want the youngsters to communicate with each other both on and off the field. These events are designed to bring us closer together, the parents, kids, coaching schools.” Having received strong backing from the district’s security forces, Cox is intent on strengthening the involvement and relationship between the two, to ensure that the community’s youth are comfortable having fun and communicating with members of the Police Service.

“The police are examples and role models in our community,” he added. “We must make sure that the young ones are in touch with the elders and those in charge.

Discipline is always important for youth development and the Police Service play an integral part of the goals of Cox Coaching School.” Cox Coaching School, after two successful visits to the US recently, intends to continue pushing towards uniting the youth in TT and is set to head to another foreign country within the coming months to increase the motivation and characters of their young players.