BFA Republic Cup kicks off on Thursday

The highly anticipated 2023 Barbados Football Association (BFA) Republic Cup is set to kick off this Thursday, igniting the island’s football fervour with a slate of eight exciting matches. 

This year’s tournament will feature 43 teams, all vying for the coveted first-place prize of $30,000 and promises to be an electrifying season of football action.

The football extravaganza will commence with a double header at three separate venues: Greens, Passage Road, and Valerie. 

At Greens, the opening clash will see Greens United going head-to-head against Benfica at 6:30 p.m., setting the stage for the Carlton versus Checker Hall match at 8:30 p.m. on the same pitch.

Meanwhile, Passage Road will witness Notre Dame and Hillaby squaring off in the first game of the doubleheader at 6:30 p.m., and later in the night, fans can expect even more excitement as Barbados Soccer Academy and Youngboyz battle it out at 8:30 p.m.

Over at Bagatelle, Police will be aiming to apprehend Fitts Village, while Bagatelle and Technique will feature on the same card.

Valerie will see Potential Ballers and Chickmont locking horns at 6:30 p.m., while the night will culminate with Pride of Gall Hill and Lodge Road facing off at 8:30 p.m. 

Mark Bob Forde, the Director of Competitions at the BFA, expressed optimism of a successful tournament, citing the impressive turnout and excitement generated during last year’s event which was won by Wales, who defeated Ellerton 1 – 0 in the final. 

He highlighted the fact that this year’s competition will involve matches taking place in each of Barbados’ 11 parishes, reflecting the BFA’s commitment to grassroots football development and community engagement.

As the tournament progresses to the round-of-16 stage, all matches will be centralised at the BFA turf in Wildey. 

In addition to the attractive cash prizes, the tournament will recognize outstanding individual performances. 

The second-place team will earn $15,000, while the third-place team will receive $7,500, and the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament will be awarded $5,000. 

The BFA will also acknowledge excellence in various categories, including an Under-20 MVP, the top goal scorer, most outstanding midfielder, the best goalkeeper and the best defensive player. 

(RT)