MIAMI, Florida – Football fever has taken over schools in the Caribbean as more than 2,000 boys and girls from The Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago get ready to play in the second edition of the Scotiabank NextPlay Cup.
Before the action on the field kicks off, children ages 10-11 are participating in an academy to learn the fundamentals of how to play the sport as well as social values and skills that will be vital to become great human beings. Beginning this week, the academy consists of a one-month afterschool program imparted by 230 Concacaf coaches and volunteers, who have been trained in grassroots football and safeguarding awareness to ensure the healthy and safe development of children within a sport environment.
“We are extremely excited about the partnership with Scotiabank which enables us to deliver the second edition of the Scotiabank Concacaf NextPlay Cup, a platform that showcases the benefits, passion and enjoyment that football provides,” said Concacaf Director of Development Jason Roberts. “By partnering with Scotiabank, we are building the NextPlay program in a sustainable way in collaboration with our Member Associations, governments and volunteers. We are ensuring that the safeguarding and awareness curriculum and the social values that young people learn will have a bigger and greater impact in the communities and lives of younger generations.”
Once the academy ends, boys and girls will take the pitch during the Scotiabank Concacaf NextPlay Cup, which is set to take place from November 23 to December 7. The academy and the Scotiabank NextPlay Cup are part of a comprehensive program sponsored by Scotiabank, which reinforces the social responsibility commitment of both organizations to provide access to the game, while ensuring a lasting legacy through football.
“At Scotiabank we believe in football!” said a Scotiabank spokesperson in an official statement. “Football has the unique ability to connect people all over the world. We also believe in the power of football as a vehicle for social change. We are committed to helping the communities that we serve to become better off. For this reason, Scotiabank is proud to partner with Concacaf in staging the NextPlay Cup which engages youth across our region and gives them to the opportunity to not only learn football but also the important life skills that team sports imparts.”
Thanks to the collaboration of Ministers of Education and the Member Associations of Barbados, Bahamas, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago over 500 children from each nation will benefit from the program initially launched in 2018. The tournament will feature a total of 224 schools, including 56 school teams from each of the participating Member Associations.
“Scotiabank Caribbean, has always been a strong supporter of youth sports as we believe they impart critical life skills such as communication, teamwork and perseverance. Along with our partners at Concacaf, we were happy to establish the Scotiabank Concacaf NextPlay Cup in 2018. This program offers primary school boys and girls, from humble backgrounds, strong technical training in football culminating in a final competition. We look forward to this year’s program and to engaging students from across the Caribbean in the beautiful game,” said Scotiabank.
Participating Concacaf Member Associations have sanctioned the Scotiabank NextPlay Cup, recognizing it as a top-class youth football competition. The primary partners of the program are the local Ministers of Education, which have approved the schools’ participation with the aim of creating a unified competition that promotes the practice of sports and transcends national, cultural, and socioeconomic barriers.
