Round of 16 action set to kick off in the NSC Primary School Football

Defending champions West Terrace Primary and last season’s runners-up Arthur Smith Primary are on course for a blockbuster quarter-final showdown as the National Sports Council’s BICO Primary School Football Competition enters the Round of 16 on Thursday.

Both teams topped their respective groups and remain unbeaten, according to NSC Senior Coach Zahir Motara.

“This is gonna be a big game for sure if they both get there, and it also sets up a situation where you  could see St Cyprian’s and Wesley Hall facing off as well in the quarterfinal stages, but I think all the teams are really playing well. A  lot of the boys are involved in academies and clubs and are playing a lot of football when Saturday comes and during the vacations,” he explained.

Motara continued, “The football itself has improved so I think that all the Round of 16 games are going to be pretty competitive from the get go, even if we have one or two blowouts.”

Ongoing dry conditions across the island have created additional challenges for the National Sports Council, forcing organisers to adjust the original schedule. 

“Originally we had Blenheim earmarked for the Round of 16, and had planned to complete all those games on June 11, playing four games at a time. Unfortunately because of the weather we couldn’t facilitate that with the ground cracking,” Motara explained.

“So we saw Greens in St George as one of our better playing fields when it comes to the surface and the grass and so on. Also with it being one of our mini stadia, we decided to move everything up there.”

“At this moment that is probably our best field that we’ve played on for the competition, so we will have the round of sixteen and quarterfinal games there before we move off to the turf (BFA Technical Centre)”.

This year’s competition has achieved one of its key objectives by increasing female participation. 

“There are some schools which field up to five girls at one time in a game. There were schools I believe in Zone 8, that would be the Adrian Donovan, Michael Foster zone at King George Park, that were really impressive in terms of showing the feminine side of football and how well they compete against the boys,” Motara revealed.

“Biologically at that age the girls sometimes are a little more physically imposing than the boys, so it’s really a bit of a clash and it’s very lovely to see. The girls are having so much fun and enthusiasm, they’re not afraid and are going into the challenges.I think I saw a couple score a goal or two as well so overall, I’m really impressed with the turnout from the ladies.”

Motara also confirmed that plans are being put in place to include a yearly  girls’ competition. He also  said there will also be a Girls’ Futsal tournament next week at the Wildey Gymnasium.

In Thursday’s games at Greens in St George, St Cyprian’s Boys’ will face Providence, Bay Primary tackle Wesley Hall, All Saints oppose Milton Lynch and Blackman & Gollop battle St Stephen’s.

Tournament coordinator Luke St John believes there has been a huge improvement in the standard of play this year compared to previous editions.

Coordinator of the National Sports Council BICO Primary School Football Competition, Luke St John. (Photo Credit: Kurtis Hinds /Barbados TODAY)

“ I will also say the refereeing has improved along with the standard of football. The boys seem to be more direct and there’s more technical skill being shown.”

“There has been improvement in the type of goals being scored, the build up play and even the camaraderie amongst the boys, you’re seeing maturity in the tournament, so I would say overall, there has been a great improvement,” St John said.

The tournament coordinator believes the NSC can take some of the credit for the improvement shown.

“You have to give credit to the National Sports Council coaches who go to these schools and conduct sessions throughout the year. I will also give kudos to the clubs that some of the boys are participants of.

“Credit is also due to the Physical Education teachers as well, as some of them have been practicing with these teams from term one. So you could definitely see everybody’s more committed to it,” he added.

(KH)