Highly talented youth footballers from the Caribbean, Central America, and the United States will be on showcase during the Cayman Islands Invitational U15 Youth Football Cup starting Tuesday.
The June 4-8 tournament hosted by the West Bay Sports Foundation (WBSF) and the Cayman Islands Football Association (CIFA) will feature eight teams playing at two venues: Ed Bush Sports Complex in West Bay and the Cayman Brac Sports Field.
Participating teams include the Cayman Islands National U15 Team and the Cuba National U15 Team, both of which are preparing for the CONCACAF U15 Championships in Florida this summer. Other teams include Cavalier FC (Jamaica), CD Victoria (Honduras), DC United (United States), Mt Pleasant Academy (Jamaica), Portmore United (Jamaica), and Tobago All Stars (Trinidad and Tobago).
“We’re really excited to have attracted another quality field of teams to compete in the tournament,” said West Bay Sports Foundation co-founder Arden Rivers. “To be able to provide this level of competition for our national players should be extremely helpful for their development and preparation ahead of the CONCACAF tournament this summer.”
CIFA President Alfredo Whittaker added: “To work with the West Bay Sports Foundation team to host a tournament like this shows what can happen when people come together. I’m looking forward to seeing our Cayman Islands footballers being put to the test against some good teams, and hopefully get some wins in front of their supporters at home.”
Group 1 will be played in Cayman Brac and feature CD Victoria, Mt Pleasant Academy, Tobago All Stars, and Cavalier FC. Group 2, which is being contested at Ed Bush Sports Complex sees the Cayman Islands National U15 team facing their counterparts from Cuba, along with youngsters Portmore United and from DC United’s academy that develops players for Major League Soccer.
The tournament kicks off on Tuesday with a pair of games at Ed Bush Sports Complex and at the Cayman Brac Sports Field. Start times are 6:30pm and 8:30pm each evening. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals on Friday for a chance to play in Saturday’s final.
This year, the winning team will lift the Winston Chung Memorial Cup in honour of the legendary coach who passed away a few months ago. “It was always his vision to host international tournaments like this one in the Cayman Islands. So, it is fitting that we honour him in this way,” said Mervin Smith, co-founder of West Bay Sports Foundation.
Major sponsors include the Ministry of Education, Sports, Agriculture and Lands; the Ministry of District Administration, Tourism and Transport; and Cayman Airways.
Admission to all games is free. For further details, including the schedule, visit caymanyouthfootballcup.ky
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