Local News Sports Women’s football hub at YMCA, fields being readied for PM’s Cup Kurtis Hinds06/07/202605 views Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment Charles Griffith and tennis hopeful, Fourth Form student Cai Prescod, at Tuesday’s handing-over ceremony of the refurbished tennis court at The St. Michael School. (LG) Government is moving to establish a dedicated home for women’s football at the YMCA as part of a wider expansion of the Prime Minister’s Cup and ongoing efforts to develop football specific-facilities across the island, Minister of Youth and Sports Charles Griffith has announced. The plan forms part of preparations for the 2026 Prime Minister’s Cup, slated for September, which will for the first time include a women’s competition carrying the same $100 000 first prize as the men’s tournament. “Last year we would have had twelve dedicated football fields, associated with the Prime Minister’s Cup. At present we have Blades Hill that is ready, Parish Land that is ready, Checker Hall is ready, along with Speightstown, and Hilda Skeene Primary,” Minister Griffith during the recent launch. “At Belleplaine, we are doing some work to make sure that is also coming on stream, while at Sweet Vale we need to put lights at that particular location, but we’re steadily identifying grounds that will become dedicated football fields and not only for the Prime Minister’s Cup. Because of the issue that we’re having with cricket, these particular fields will now be fully football fields, including the YMCA that we’re hoping will also act as a dedicated field for female football.” Prime Minister Mia Mottley also reiterated her commitment at the launch to further expanding the competition by introducing a youth component. “Clearly it won’t be under the same terms and conditions as the adults, but we are going to ensure that there is a junior tournament that also finishes in the month of November, because the best thing to do is to give people opportunities and possibilities that they can see ahead of them. “So if we have the young kids playing and finishing two weeks before the major Prime Minister’s Cup tournament, then Barbados is going to over time develop an affinity with football, that may come to rival our affinity with cricket. I want our young people to recognise that we will give you an opportunity in sports. Sports and culture create global citizens. Nobody is going to ask you about a visa if you’re the best in your sport,” the prime minister said. (KH)