Prince of Wales Peace Cup finals on today at UTech

Robert Bailey, Sunday Gleaner Writer

The finals of the Digicel Foundation Prince of Wales Community Peace Cup will kick off at the University of Technology (UTech) football field today starting at 10 a.m.

Fourteen parish champions will play head to head in knockout six-a-side football competition.

The 14 parish teams who are down to compete are Stars of the East (Kingston), Fire House Strikers (St. Andrew), Cedar Grove Estate Sports Club (St Catherine),Tafari Youth Club (Hanover), Beeston Spring United (Westmoreland), Mini Milan (Clarendon), Prospect Uprising Youth Club (Manchester), Progressive Ballers (St Ann), Castleton Strikers (St Mary), Muschett High (Trelawny), SLG (St James), Black Rock All-Stars (Portland), English FC (St Thomas) and Sandy Bank Rangers (St Elizabeth).

Digicel Foundation and Beacons for Peace and Achievement (BPA) launched the Digicel Foundation Prince of Wales Community Peace Cup Football Initiative on July 14 last year.

The competition which also started in July was held islandwide, producing 14 parish champions. To be eligible to compete teams must be made up of unattached males 15-24 years of age.

prize

The winning team will receive a cash award of $300,000 and a trip to London for a coaching session with the Chelsea Football Club. The runners-up will receive $150,000 while the third-place team will collect $100, 000.

The winning team will also serve as youth ambassadors for Jamaica. This initiative specifically targets 'at-risk youth' by engaging them in sports with the hope that this will deter involvement in crime or other illegal activities.

The overall goal of the Peace Cup is to promote peace, volunteerism, change and leadership building through sports.