All set for GKIA football jamboree

Great Kidz in Action (GKIA), formerly Kidz Connection, will host its second annual six-a-side youth football jamboree today at the Duhaney Park Football Field, and event organiser Tynesa Miller, is excited about the inclusion of females.

"This year, we are going to do things a bit different. We have some female teams that are coming. They will compete against the boys, because that is what they want. Two are straight female teams, and one is mixed with two boys but are majority females. The boys are substitutes," she noted

Two of the teams will be in the under-13s and one in the under-10.

"So they are in both primary and high -school levels and they definitely want to match up against the boys. They don't want to play against each other," she revealed.

Miller said that concerns about the third edition of the KSAFA under-10 competition on the same weekend have been allayed.

More teams coming

"Only two teams dropped out. Most clubs share the players, so some will come here and others will go to KSAFA. So it has not really affected us. We have even more teams coming than last year," Miller added.

First and second place in each category will be presented with trophies and medals. Phoenix Academy dominated the inaugural tournament, making three of the four finals and winning two of the three.

Craig Butler's teams won the under-8 title and under-10 crown. Winchester Academy (St George's College) took the under-13 title, while St Andrew Technical (STATHS) captured the under-15s.

Miller noted that the tournament is highly anticipated.

"With the amount of interest the community youths have this year, they are super-excited and have been training every evening for the last two months. So they are taking it serious. They are very excited, and by coming out and supporting them, they will get the motivation to make it a great tournament," she said.