'Ghetto World Cup' a big hit

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Administrative director of the Institute of Sports, Ian Andrews, has hailed the overwhelming support that the All-Island Football Community Championship has received.

"It has been oversubscribed because we did not know that we would have got this kind of response from the communities," said Andrews. "What they have been calling this competition is the Ghetto World Cup and the communities are protecting it, like their lives depend on it."

The competition aims to change the lives of more than 14,500 unattached youths between the ages of 16 and 26. The teams are drawn from over 500 communities, which will compete for the right to be called national community football champions of Jamaica.

"I am certainly surprised with the support, because when you are starting something new people tend to be apprehensive before they get involved, but from the word go they were all involved with it," Andrews said.

Andrews added that the competition is also helping to develop and nurture young players for future national teams.

good standard

"The standard of the competition has been good because some of the parishes have a lot of good young players that are getting a chance to showcase their talents on a regular basis now," he said.

Andrews, however, noted that they are not only looking for football players, but also for persons who can be trained to become future referees and managers.

According to Andrews, the aim is to help in the complete personal development of persons living in some of these communities who, "might not be as fortunate as some of us".

The eventual winners will walk away with $500,000, runners-up will pocket $150,000, third $100,000 and fourth $50,000. In addition, the top teams will receive trophies and there will also be an additional trophy for the most disciplined team. The preliminary competition will eliminate many of the teams, leading to a final 32.

They will be placed in eight groups of four. Play will continue with a round-robin format in each group. The team will play each other twice. The top two on points will then advance to the round of 16.

The 16 teams will again be placed into four groups from which the top eight will advance to the quarter-final knockout. Subsequent knockouts will lead to the championship via the semi-finals and final.