Organisers of the Ideal Finance Corporation Limited (IFC)-sponsored Primary School Football Competition are optimistic that an increase in participation will spark more excitement in this year’s second staging scheduled for October 24.

A total of 30 schools in and around the Corporate Area are down to contest the tournament this year, up from the 20 which participated in the previous edition.

According to Derrick Brown, co-ordinator of the Kingston and St Andrew Primary Schools Sports Association, the addition of 10 schools is a significiant step in the right direction for the competition. He also lauded the primary schools’ fraternity on the increase in participation and IFC for their continued sponsorship.

Orick Angus, legal advisor for Ideal Finance Group Corporation Limited, is also excited about the prospects for this year’s edition.

“I was very pleased throughout in the running and organisation of the competition. I am also pleased with what I saw from the boys, as they showed that they had a lot of talent. So I am expecting this year will be more exciting and looking forward to see this competition grow from strength-to-strength,” Angus noted.

The participating schools will be divided into four zones for the preliminary round, with the top two teams from each zone advancing to the quarter-finals. Each game will last 40 minutes, with a 10-minute half-time break.

Defending champions St Richard’s Primary and runners-up Pembroke Hall Primary and Maxfield Park, are to be joined by Clan Carthy, St Benedict’s, Harbour View, Mountain View, Iris Gelly, Rousseau, Lawrence Tavern, Excelsior, John Mills, St Patrick’s and Mona Primary.

Melrose Primary School, which will host the dress parade ahead of kick off, and St Richard’s Primary School are the venues for match days.