Harbour View expand Reggae Cup
Harbour View’s Youth Reggae Cup is expanding to accommodate more age-group categories and teams, as, according to general manager Clyde Jureidini, interest is growing locally and internationally in the competition with each staging.
Five-time Jamaica Premier League (JPL) champions Harbour View are gearing up for their 50thanniversary celebrations on March 4, including a two-day football festival at the Harbour View MiniStadium on March 3 and 4, which is set to bring out the best talent on local soil.
“We’re proud to say there’s now more interest from the JPL clubs and schools. We’ll be having islandwide participation from as far west as Montego Bay, and there’s also interest from St Ann.
“We’re also having interest from our friends in Trinidad and Tobago, the United States of America and Canada, who are asking for us to do some modifications so that they can participate next year and going forward,” Jureidini said.
Last year’s hosting of the Youth Reggae Cup had four categories. These were under-7, under-9, under-11 and under-13, which, according to Jureidini, will be increased to cater to the demands.
“For this year, we’ve gone further up, adding the under-15 and under-17. They will play later on each day during the cooler times and under the lights. Those categories have been totally sold out, and we’re still getting interest daily from JPL clubs,” He added.
Jureidini explained that Harbour View’s founding philosophy is to nurture their football talents, allowing players to travel through the ranks, a hallmark for the ‘Stars of the East’.
“We celebrate March 4, so that’s why the Youth Reggae Cup is being played at this time. We emphasise and stay true to our club philosophy and upgrade from the youth level up.
“Proudly, we can say that we’re the only club with an under-7, under-9, under-11, under-13, under-15, under-17, JPL and a Masters League, so, players can go from youth level, and their pathway can go up the football life cycle,” he explained.