The organisers of the popular National Youth Cup, the Barbados Football Association, have 20 000 more reasons to be smiling this year.
Scotia Bank, which has been the driving force behind Kiddies Cricket in the region for over two decades, has joined forces with the BFA to sponsor this year’s edition of the Youth Cup to the tune of $20 000.
The tournament, which commenced last weekend and which is being contested in two tiers, has attracted 80 teams from 30 clubs.
The Under-9 and Under 11 finals will be held on March 24, while the bigger boys will claim their honours in a festival of finals on April 7.
In handing over the sponsorship cheque, senior marketing manager of Scotia Bank, Lisa Cole, said discussions were still ongoing to determine the length of the sponsorship.
“This sponsorship . . . gives us a two-fold benefit in that we get to solidify our commitment to sports while cementing our connection to the youth,” she said.
“While this would be our first youth football partnership here in Barbados, our counterparts regionally and internationally have long been using football to connect with our stakeholders.
“In 2015, Scotia Bank became the first official partner and bank of CONCACAF and became the title sponsor of the Champions League and Caribbean Nations Cup at that time, and so our international association with football is strong.
“This sponsorship is a perfect avenue through which we can fulfil our core objectives: to reach out to our young people in positive and meaningful ways that will resonate with them and to further build up the region’s cadre of talented sportspeople who can represent us on a global platform,” said Cole.
Chairman of the tournament committee, Renaldo Gilkes, said that the number of registered players was rising and players were showing sound use of football terminology as well as improved levels of play. (KB)
