Pinelands youth chasing a 2016 tour

The Pinelands Youth Soccer Academy are one step closer to realising their dream of a tour to Tobago later this year after hosting the Randolph Cox Under-11 and Under-13 Soccerama yesterday at Parkinson Field. The fundraising event, which was produced in association with the Community Development Department, saw just about 10 youth teams going head-to-head in friendly competition as they al vied for top honours.

 

The Pinelands neighbourhood became a hive of activity as it was transformed into a massive family event with seven-a-side football matches, a youth road tennis competition, health checks and tests and children’s activities among other things. With the event occurring under the patronage of Minister of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development, Steve Blackett, teams from Pinelands, Silver Sands, Parkinson, Whitehall Spartans and Brittons Hill had all thrown their hats in the ring.

 

Speaking to the Barbados Advocate, Minister Blackett noted that after the organisers reached out for assistance with the execution of the event, the Community Development Department was pleased to offer support and stated that once the resources were available for a worthy endeavour, the department would assist. “Whenever the aides or the Community Development Officers identify that there is a need in any particular community, once the resources allow us, we are willing to step in an assist.” Minister Blackett said.

 

Going on to say that the event had opened the door to similar initiatives in other communities, Blackett added that this was fell under the mandate of the department and was a step in the right direction. “That is really the business of the Community Development Department – to assist communities in igniting the kind of community spirit that was once, that we have lost and we want to regain.” he said.

 

Yesterday's soccerama was the first wave of the two-pronged event, and the Randolph Cox Under-11 and Under-13 Youth Classic Tournament is slated to kick off from July 5th to 16th at Parkinson as well. (MP)