Firms Football kicks off

Twelve local firms, last Saturday afternoon, began to pit their Football skills against one another, as Break Away Masters hosted the Digicel Firms Invitational Football Tournament,{{more}} with a 15-minute elimination competition at the Grammar School Playing Field.

VINLEC, who gained a bye to the semi-finals, emerged champions, beating Transport and Works on penalties.

Before that though, a colourful march past formally ushered in the inaugural competition, and saw eight of the registered teams being represented. It was the CWSA who got the adjudicators’ nod as the Best Dressed Team on parade.

In a short Opening Ceremony, Chairman of the Organising Committee Leopold Dopwell said it was easy sailing from conceptualization to implementation of the inaugural competition.

Dopwell revealed that Digicel was readily receptive of the idea and gave support immediately, while the Manager of the National Sports Council, Osbourne Browne and Chairman Lance John, without delay, made available the Grammar School Playing Field, to host the competition.

Newly installed President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation Venold Coombs spoke of his Executive’s immediate plans, including an island-wide Under-13 Football competition, set for this December and a decentralisation of the Grassroots Football Programme.

Vying for title honours are Transport and Works, Karib Cable, Courts St. Vincent Limited, SVG Port Authority, Prime Minister’s Office and VINLEC, which are in Group One, with CWSA, Combined Banks, SVG Coast Guard, Customs and Excise, Digicel and Coreas and Hazells Inc., drawn in Group Two.

As part of the format of the competition, each firm can register four female players, one of whom must be on the field of play.

Dopwell said that this gave an opportunity for firms to incorporate members of the senior female team on their roster.

Matches will be played from Monday to Thursday and the tournament is scheduled to be completed by November 30. (RT)