Massive Crowds Expected for Prime Minister’s Cup Finale

Thousands of fans are set to descend on Kensington Oval on Monday, December 1, for what promises to be the largest football event of the year — the Prime Minister’s Cup final. Weymouth Wales and Kickstart Rush will clash for the championship trophy and a $100 000 cash prize in front of near-capacity crowds.

The second edition of the Prime Minister’s Cup has already surpassed expectations, with crowds consistently exceeding 2 000 spectators despite bouts of heavy rain. “So far we have printed over 9 000 tickets, and only 2 000 to 3 000 remain before reaching full capacity,” said Shane Archer, Project Manager of the tournament. Archer told a press conference that the Prime Minister’s Cup has gone beyond its mission of Empowering Communities One Goal at a Time, leaving a lasting impact on local communities and vendors.

Match day kicks off early, with gates opening at 2 p.m. A major curtain-raiser at 4 p.m. features the Barbados Lady Tridents taking on the Trinidad and Tobago Soca Warriors in the Concacaf W Qualifiers. The third-place match, a Christ Church derby between Paradise Club and Wotton FC,  follows at 6:30 p.m., leading to the highly anticipated final at 9 p.m.

Archer also addressed an ongoing challenge with spectators attempting to manipulate the online ticketing system by applying under fake names to secure excessive quantities. He stressed the need for fairness and responsibility.

“Even though we said persons are to receive a maximum of two tickets, some persons are going onto the page, reloading and coming back with different names but the same email address… one person went in and took 60 tickets,” Archer revealed.

He urged the public to follow the guidelines, adding, “It is not good for anyone and it is an offence to resell the tickets and I hope persons don’t engage in this type of activity.”

Archer emphasised that the committee is working closely with partners to ensure genuine fans gain access. “Last year we had record numbers at Kensington and I hope this year we could exceed those numbers with the finals and third-place game along with the women’s game being streamed all here at Kensington Oval.”

Finals night will also feature a slate of entertainment including Jordan English, Mole, Lil Rick, Haynesville Youth Group, the Barbados Cheerleading Association, and a tuk band, adding to the festive atmosphere. All matches will be streamed live via CBC TV and Flow Sports.

Eastmond, serving as Chairman of the Organising Committee, spoke to the cultural significance of the event.

“I hope that the Prime Minister’s Cup will bring lots of excitement and as a collective we hope come December 1 we have lots of celebrations and display our national pride,” he expressed.

He further shared that the tournament’s economic and social impact, especially for small entrepreneurs, has been excellent. “We have people saying the Prime Minister’s Cup has allowed them to feed their entire household of six… it has been an excellent addition to the people of Barbados and the wider community.”

Also present was Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment Charles Griffith, who praised both the quality of football and community turnout.

“It has been indeed a very successful Prime Minister’s Cup. We have in excess of 500, probably close to 600 players involved… and that is not counting the officials,” he noted.

Griffith also reaffirmed the decision to reduce the number of teams this year. “Quantity equates to quality, so we cut down on the quantity but the quality of the competition is one that everybody is pleased with.”

Barbados Football Association President Randy Harris expressed gratitude to the tournament organisers for elevating the structure and profile of the sport.

“We all love football and for it to grow successful, we have to work together to make sure that we lift the standard of our clubs, our teams and football in general in Barbados,” Harris said.

Marketing and Communications Officer Danielle Toppin outlined spectator policies for the big day, stressing, “No food or drinks are allowed… you are also not allowed to walk with coolers, and no type of smoking of any kind.” She extended thanks to sponsors including Flow, Body Bliss Zone, CBC, National Cultural Foundation and the National Sports Council. (AS)