MONTEGO BAY, St James — A scholarship worth over $100,000 over five years will be given to the top GSAT performer in this year’s Victoria Mutual Building Society St James Football Association Under-13 football competition.

Christopher Denny, vice-president of distribution for VMBS, made the announcement at the launch of the 25th staging of the competition at the UDC field yesterday.

The scholarship will be worth $125,000 — $25,000 each year over five years and will be paid to the high school of the winner.

The award, a release from VMBS said, was in support of the message that student athletes should balance their studies while playing sports; “successful footballers over the years have learned to balance their schoolwork while playing the sport and later on in life, balancing work and play,” Denny said.

Defending champions Anchovy Primary were held 0-0 by Mt Salem Primary in the opening game that followed the opening ceremony.

Three games will be played today, also at the UDC field. Newcomers Chatsworth Primary take on Chetwood in the first game at 10:00 am, followed by Barracks Road vs Catherine Hall, and Montego Bay Christian Academy vs Granville.

Thirty-one schools will take part and have been divided into six zones. The top two will advance to the quarter-finals where they will again be placed in four groups of three. The winner of each quarter-final group will then advance to the semi-finals.

There are two newcomers, Chatsworth Primary and Builders Prep, while Supreme Prep are a returning team.

The winning team will get $30,000, the runners-up will get $25,000, third place to receive $20,000 and fourth place, $15,000. The top coach will get $10,500 and a trophy.

For the first time this season, each zone winner will get a trophy.

Anthony Adams of Mt Salem clears the ball out of his area in yesterday’s opening game in the VMBS St James FA Under-13 game played at the UDC field. The game ended in a 0-0 draw.

(PHOTO: PAUL REID)