Danny Beckford: Primary school football ‘has done wonders’ for the sport

Speaking to Old Harbour News at half-time during the final between Hanover’s Bethel Primary and St Benedict’s Primary of Kingston, Beckford said: “The pleasure is ours to first of all host the final.

“This is the age group we have always been advocating for to get as much exposure for the development of football not only in the parishes but nationally as a whole.

“It is pleasing to see some of the talents on show especially some of the young ladies which augurs well for our female programme going forward.”

A total of 308 teams participated in the 2018/19 season, a massive jump from the 136 schools that competed last season following the resuscitation of state programme that had gone dormant after a three-year $60 million sponsorship agreement with then telecommunications company LIME ended in 2012. At that time a total of 405 teams battled for top honours.

And those numbers have certainly impressed Beckford.

“We give kudos to the government for taking up this INSPORTS primary school football competition for all these years… and like I’ve said it has motivated, it has exposed, it has done wonders for all the youth in the rural parishes in particular to showcase their skills in football,” he said.

“Hats off to INSPORTS, hats off to all who have made this possible,” the football director stressed. 

Beckford, a longstanding president of the St Ann FA, says the Institute of Sports – the state agency mandated to develop and promote sport at the grassroots – must continue to evaluate the product in order to make it viable and sustainable.

He continued: “What we need to do is streamline it, see what we need to do and improve on it… get more schools if needs be by going into the nook and cranny of the communities and get them out. But like I said this is very, very good for football in the parish.”

Matches last for 60 minutes with teams free to make unlimited substitutions. Teams are allowed to field a maximum of nine players at any given time, however, a girl must be playing at all times, a policy initiative geared towards the development of women’s football in the country.

“This is the biggest thing so far as it relates to football that the government can do and then mandating girls to be on each team. This age group is the most challenging age group and if we can get more resources in terms of equipment and everything else to put into this that the youth can get more,” he said, noting that the primary school football could become the equivalent of what “Champs is to high schools”.

Bethel Primary were crowned champions following a 2-1 over St Benedict's Primary in a gripping finale. Owen Jumpp fired the Hanovarians in front four minutes from half-time by slotting home a miscued shot, while his brother Randy Jumpp double the advantage shortly after the resumption. Leon Rhone gave St Benedict’s hope with a goal in the 41st minute but the boys from Harbour View were unable to find a second despite going close on a few occasions.