The Petra Organisation, coordinator of the ExxonMobil U-14 Schools Football Championship, presented the tournament jerseys to the coaches of the competing schools yesterday at the simple presentation ceremony at the National Library, Church Street, Georgetown.
Troy Mendonca, Co-Director of Petra, pointed out that without the hard work of the teachers, coaches, and managers, there would be no tournament, and as such, it was important for the organisers to hold consultations with them to sort out the finer details ahead of the opening day of the tournament.
“Since the tournament was first held, this is the first time we are meeting with teachers and managers. We decided to do so because we want to grow together as this tournament continues.”.
“In an effort to add value to the programme, we have invited you to hear your concerns and opinions. Without your input, sacrifice, and dedication, it would not be the programme that we set out to accomplish,” he said.
The boy’s category will see the 32 teams divided into eight groups of fours for the round-robin stage, followed by the round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and subsequent final. The girls segment will see the 24 teams broken into six groups of four, followed by the subsequent knock-out phases.
The event will kick off on Saturday (May 25) at the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown.
The games will feature 40-minute games (20-minute halves), while the knockout phases of the tournament will see 50-minute games. In the knockout segment, if the scores are tied at full-time, the teams will head straight to penalty kicks; however, in the semi-finals and final, extra time will be added if there is a deadlock between sides followed by the penalty kicks.
The prize money pool has also increased this year and will see both males and females earning the same amount for their respective efforts.
The eventual winner will pocket $400,000 towards a school project of their choosing plus the corresponding trophy, while the second, third, and fourth-place finishers will receive $200,000, $100,000, and $75,000 apiece and the respective accolade.
In a commendable move, Petra also announced that both male and female MVPs (Most Valuable Player) will receive trophies, football boots, and a year’s worth of educational support in the form of school supplies. Additionally, there will be accolades for the highest goal scorer, the best goalkeeper, and the most disciplined team.
