Big Brooks Park turnout bittersweet for Junior Football League

THREE REGIONAL Youth Football League competitions done and dusted and now with the all-island competition set to take centre stage among the under-11 players, organisers of the Junior Cup Under-11 have had a moment to reflect.

The last of the three competitions, which took place at Brooks Park in Mandeville, Manchester, witnessed the biggest turnout, the other two taking place at the Constant Spring Football Field in St Andrew and at the Wespow Park in Montego Bay.

While the turnout, where El Instituto de Mandevilla were crowned central Jamaica champions, was heartening for the Free Your Image Consultancy (FYI) organisers, there was also a worrying trend.

Brooks Park was the largest turnout. “As usual, prep schools always have a bigger crowd support,” said FYI Managing Director Paula Pinnock.

According to Pinnock, while she was heartened by the support for the final event, and the all-island competition will be held at Brooks Park on account of that support, there needs to be a narrative change.

“One primary school coach noted he was the only rep from his school that attended with the kids while schools like Marjam, ECA [Emmanuel Christian Academy], Belair have large contingencies. We have to change the culture and expectation,” said Pinnock.

On Saturday, El Instituto de Mandevilla defeated Belair Prep 2-1 in the final to earn their title as central Jamaica champions.

DOMINANT TEAM

On their way to the title, they proved dominant, beating South Starz Academy 5-0 in their Group B opener before a big 10-1 victory over Midland Prep.

The dominance continued with defeats of Mineral Heights Primary, 3-0, and Mount St Joseph’s Prep 5-0.

In the semi-final, they were 3-0 winners over Marjam Prep and, understandably, faced their biggest challenge against Belair in the final.

For their part, Belair were no less dominant on the road to the final, beating Marjam Prep 4-1, Great Start Academy 12-0, Millennium Kids Development Centre 7-0, and Trout Hall Primary 13-0.

Belair were also brilliant in their semi-final match-up, dismissing Mount St Joseph’s Prep 3-0, before losing their only game of the tournament.

The result means that the under-11 all-island finals on Saturday will include Belair, El Instituto de Mandevilla, Mount St Joseph’s, and Marjam.

The four join eight finalists in Cornaldi Primary, Howard Cooke Primary, Flankers Primary, and Bethel Primary schools from Montego Bay, as well as ECA, Sts Peter and Paul, Spanish Town Primary, and Rousseau Primary from Kingston and St Andrew.

Junior Cup U11 finalists

Corinaldi Primary

Flankers Primary

Howard Cooke Primary

Bethel Primary

Marjam Prep

El Instituto de Mandevilla

Mt St Joseph’s Prep

Belair Prep

Emmanuel Christian Academy

Sts Peter and Paul Prep

Spanish Town Primary

Rousseau Primary