ST ANN’s Rangers were among five clubs to receive top awards for their performances in the 17th Edition of the Republic Bank RightStart Cup Youth Football Tournament which concluded on August 5.
The winners collected their prizes at a ceremony at the Bank’s Head Office on Park Street, Port-of-Spain, Saturday.
Rangers walked away with the U-15 and U-17 boys title, to emerge as the top club in this year’s tournament.
Coach of the St Ann’s Rangers U-17 team Everett Williams said his boys wanted the title after it eluded them in the 16th edition last year. “We missed out last year and the boys wanted to show that they were good enough to claim the title. We knew we could have done it and they went out there and got the job done,” said the coach.
Williams feels the performance of the youth teams should enable the club to get a sponsor in the near future.
Speaking at the award ceremony Robert Le Hunte, General Manager Planning and Financial Control said the tournament was born out of a vision of commitment to youth empowerment.
“Immediately we saw the tremendous value in giving young people from every walk of life, despite gender, creed or class, the chance to take part in a sporting discipline that not only challenges and motivates, but instills discipline, morals and values,” said Le Hunte.
He said the tournament is the bank’s attempt at providing young and aspiring athletes with an avenue where they could practise and hone skills on and off the playing field.
This year over 40 teams qualified for the finals which was held at Casual’s Corner, Queen’s Park Savannah on August 5. SKHY Football Club took the U-10 trophy, Trendsetter Hawks took the U-13, Trincity Nationals took the U-17 Girls and CHILD/LHVC in the Special Olympics.
The Republic Cup Youth Football Tournament and Camp are part of the Bank’s Power to Make a Difference social development programme.
Launched in 2003, this initiative pledges $40 million over the next five years to various community projects and NGO’s.
It focuses largely on the positive development of youths through educational, cultural and sporting initiatives.
U-10
Winner - SKHY Football Club $2,000
Runners-up - Easter Boys
Government School $1,000
MVP - Justin Wilson (SKHY)
U-13
Winner - Trendsetter Hawks $3,000
Runners-up - San Juan Jabloteh $1,500
MVP - Che Benny (Trendsetter)
U-15
Winner - St Ann’s Rangers $3,000
Runners-up - SKHY $1,500
MVP - Raheam Borde (Rangers)
U-17
Winner - St Ann’s Rangers $5,000
Runners-up - Trendsetter $2,500
MVP - Marquise Hoyte (Rangers)
U-17 Girls
Winner - Trincity Nationals $5,000
Runners-up - St Mary’s
Central United $2,500
MVP - Shanisa Camejo (Trincity)
Special Olympics
CHILD/LHVC
MVP - Anna Lisa Tarboulay