MANDEVILLE, Manchester — The Kirkvine Sports Club will be buzzing with activity on Sunday afternoon as the Manchester Football Association hosts its “Day of Football”, which encompasses the opening of the Moorlands Development/Pat Anderson Under-17 competition and the playing of the Captain’s Bakery Major League semi-finals.

The day’s proceedings begin with a dress parade, followed by two opening games at 1:00 pm — Downs vs Manchester Academy and Alligator Pond vs Ricam Academy.

The U-17 competition, named in honour of former MFA president Pat Anderson, is contested by the parish’s Major League and high school teams and will be sponsored for the first time by real estate firm Moorlands Development who has pumped over $2 million into the competition over a two-year period.

Speaking at a press launch last week, Kempton Small, the company’s chairman, said the sponsorship represents their contribution to youth development. “I have noticed that youngsters have a challenge dealing with leadership and authority and I believe sports is one major way to deal with these challenges,” he said.

Meanwhile, the day’s main event, the Major League semi-finals, will commence at 3:00 pm with Mile Gully battling Hillstars on Field A and New Green going up against Greenvale in the other semis at 4:00 on Field B.

New Green will start favourites in their encounter against Greenvale. The Courtney Jackson-coached team have been in impressive form all season, winning the first two trophies on this year’s football calendar — the Brumalia House Knockout and the Major League mid-season final.

They topped the overall points standing coming into the semis with 33 points and hold a psychological advantage over their opponents, whom they beat twice (by 2-1 margins in the mid-season final and their cross-zone fixture) this season.

Greenvale, a first-time semi-finalists, qualified with the poorest record of the teams in the last four — 16 games played, eight wins, three draws, five defeats, 20 goals for and 17 against.

Based on the story of their respective seasons, the neutral might lean slightly towards a Hillstars victory against Mile Gully in the other game.

While Hillstars, who finished second in the 12-team standings on 31 points, have been consistent all season, Mile Gully had what could be called a so-so campaign in the preliminary rounds: neither very good nor very bad.

They Barry Watson-coached team, of mostly high school players, hovered around mid-table for much of the season with a string of hot and cold performances, before hitting top gear towards the end of the prelim to finish third on 28 points.