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The young footballers in the West Penn League have been urged to strike a balance between sports and academics, because of the rewards to be had.

Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Darryl Smith made the plea at the launch of the 2017 RBC West Penn Community Youth Football League at the Diego Martin North Secondary School Recreation Ground. The West Penn League brings together teams from across Trinidad's western peninsula, with both male and female teams participating in two divisions, Under-15 and Under-18. The theme for this year's competition is “Play Football, Make Peace”.

The minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for Diego Martin West, said he was “very pleased to see young girls taking part in the tournament.” Sport, he said, held tremendous opportunities for young men and women and football was no exception, as many young Trinbagonians have earned academic scholarships and professional contracts in the game. Once you display a high level of discipline and commitment, he said, you can realise your full potential.

Minister Smith congratulated RBC for its commitment to the West Penn tournament, adding that it was important for the corporate sector to support such initiatives, especially for the development of the youths.

RBC Royal Bank's Managing Director, Darryl White, said the bank was proud to be a partner with the West Penn league. White said the programme was in line with RBC's own commitment to helping clients thrive and communities prosper. “The work of West Penn, as with many other youth programmes, is important not only for the development of our talent pool in the sport of football, but for the focus on giving a sense of purpose to young men and women who can be so easily be distracted by the ills of our society,” he said.

“When you look back at the great names in football in Trinidad and Tobago, such as Russell Latapy, Dwight Yorke and Stern John, they all played in leagues for their schools and in their various communities. I hope we have players in the RBC West Penn League who would wear the red, white and black in the future.”

The RBC head called on the players to express their talent with pride, discipline and harmony. “We all aim to win but some of us will lose but let us do it with dignity. Listen to your coaches, play hard, play in the spirit of the game and may the best team win,” he said.

Shurland Hartley, Vice President/Sport Director of the League, said the main aim of the competition was to engage the youths in positive activities. “There is too much indiscipline among the youths and we believe that sports and cultural activities can steer you away from that road.”

Matches start tomorrow with Rise Again versus Greenhill Bagatelle at 2pm in the Boys Under-15 Division followed by Goodwood Eagles against Rise Again in the Under-18 Division.

UPCOMING FIXTURES

May 20

Boys U-15 - Big Valley vs Blue Basin Waterwheel

Boys U-18 - Patna River Estate vs Big Valley

May 21

Boys U-15 - St Lucien United vs Greenhill Bagatelle

Boys U-18 - St Lucien United vs Cocorite Stars

May 28

Boys U-15 - St James Youths vs St Joseph Youths

Boys U-18 - Goodwood Eagles vs Greenhill Bagatelle

June 4

Girls U-18 - Corpus/Covigne vs St Lucien United

Girls U-18 - St. James Youths vs. Tranquil Youths

RELATED NEWS

Smith lauds West Penn League.
T&T Newsday Reports.


STRIKING a balance between sports and academics can yield big rewards such as valuable sporting scholarships and possibly a professional playing career, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Darryl Smith told young footballers recently. The minister was speaking at the launch of the 2017 RBC West Penn Community Youth Football League at the Diego Martin North Secondary School recreation ground.

The minister, who is also the MP for Diego Martin West, said he was “very pleased to see young girls taking part in the tournament.” Sport, he said, held tremendous opportunities for young men and women and football was no exception.

Once you display a high level of discipline and commitment, he said, you can realise your full potential.

Minister Smith congratulated RBC for its commitment to the West Penn tournament, adding that it was important for the corporate sector to support such initiatives especially for the development of TT’s youth.

RBC Royal Bank’s Managing Director, Darryl White, said the bank was proud to be a partner with the West Penn league to help provide a positive avenue for young men and women to improve their football playing skills and to develop important values such as teamwork and fair play. White said the programme was in line with RBC’s own commitment to helping clients thrive and communities prosper.

“The work of West Penn, as with many other youth programmes, is important not only for the development of our talent pool in the sport of football, but for the focus on giving a sense of purpose to young men and women who can be so easily be distracted by the ills of our society,” he said.

“When you look back at the great names in football in Trinidad and Tobago, such as Russel Latapy, Dwight Yorke and Stern John, they all played in leagues for their schools and in their various communities.

I hope we have players in the RBC West Penn League who would wear the red, white and black in the future.” The RBC head called on the players to express their talent with pride, discipline and harmony.

Matches start tomorrow with Rise Again coming up against Greenhill Bagatelle at 2pm in the Boys’ U-15 Division followed by Goodwood Eagles agianst Rise Again in the U-18 Boys’ Division.