Football Festival to be an annual affair

An all day Football Festival, a joint venture between the Campdonia/ Chelsea Football Club and the White Plains Youth Soccer Association of New York, came off on Wednesday, December 28, at the Campden Park Playing Field, but it will not be the last.{{more}}

That’s the view of the man who put his thoughts into action, Renrick “Scrambler” Alexander, a former player with Chelsea, who now resides in the USA.

Alexander, who is the Technical Director of the White Plains Youth Soccer Association of Westchester, New York, told SEARCHLIGHT that he was impressed with the turn out and will do it all over again.

“I came here with my heart crossed, wondering if it will work, but when I saw the enthusiasm and energy of the youths, I was impressed,” Alexander said.

“When I get back up, I am going to plan for this year and make it better than the first one,” Alexander said with some excitement.

Alexander revealed after the idea was hatched for hosting such a festival, the rest was plain sailing.

“When I took the idea first to my board, they readily accepted it,” Alexander confirmed.

The one day Football Festival involved a day of small sided matches among some of the different youth Football units across the mainland.

Competition was in the Under-10, Under-13 and Under-15.

Winning the Under-10 and Under-13 Divisions, was Barrouallie, with West Side Raiders taking the Under-15. System 3 was the runner up in all three divisions.

In the individual awards, there was a tie for the player in the final in the Under-10 division, between Denzil Bascombe of System 3 and Korie Anderson of Barrouallie.

In the Under-13, the player of the final was Timourn Mc Kie of Barrouallie, with Lesbert Fredericks of System 3, Player of the Final in the Under-15.

Korie Anderson with nine goals was the leading goal scorer in the Under-10. Erel Hector of System 3 was the top marksman in the Under-13, with his five goals, and Kyle Edwards, also of System 3, the top goal scorer with eight goals, in the Under-15 Division.

Alexander, who is charge of the White Plains Tyros in the various Under-16 competitions in the New York area, expressed his satisfaction with the local talents he was exposed to.

Alexander said he was particularly impressed with the youngsters from the Barrouallie area, whom he felt are the best structured among the various age groups.

He is advising the local Football authorities to invest more in the youths, as they are the ones who need the greatest attention.

“For what I have seen, there is a good future ahead for many of these youngsters, once they are guided properly and keep their heads in the right place,” Alexander observed.

He stressed the importance of the parents, coaches and the young players themselves paying attention to their academics, as according to him, “there are many opportunities out there to get into the US college system.”

The Football Festival also saw the honouring of five persons who have contributed significantly to youth Football in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. (RT)