The Grace Mighty Malt Victory Cup is scheduled to kick off on Saturday with 84 teams featuring approximately 1,200 footballers set to be in action at the Kingston Polo Club.

The seventh staging of the two-day tournament will have both boys and girls, between the ages of seven and 17 years old, take part in what is dubbed the biggest youth football tournament on the island.

Conceptualiser Gregory Jones, director of Pro Nation Sports, noted that there will be three series of tournaments in Kingston, St Andrew and St Catherine.

“But we have teams from all over, from St Ann, Trelawny and Manchester, who are a part of what we do,” Jones noted.

“It is important to have the kids playing and playing right around the year as the cycle in Europe and the US is 10 months, and that is why they are extremely competitive,” he pointed out.

“We, in Jamaica, we only play for about three months and the first time I tried to play a tournament in January, I was chastised because I was told it’s track and field season and Jamaica is track and field country.

“I can say that we have changed the culture and the mindset, as we speak, for this weekend, we have 84 teams registered for our tournament and counting,” he added.

There will be scholarships for outstanding players, of course, with good academic grades as a criterion.

The coaches are not to be left out and the top coach will win a trip to any Beaches Resort for a weekend. They would also win $30,000 and a scholarship to pursue the D Licence Coaching Certificate.

Kristina Hill, brand manager for beverages at Grace Foods, said the sport of football is not just about bringing people together, but more importantly, it is about building our youth and that’s what this tournament is about.

“At Grace Foods and more specifically, Grace Mighty Malt, we are all-in. Not just because we love football, but because we believe in what it can do, the discipline, the focus, the opportunities it creates,” said Hill.

“This year, our commitment remains strong. As part of the Grace Foods family, Mighty Malt continues to invest where it matters most — in Jamaica’s youth, in community and in the power of sport to create change,” she added.

“Because the Victory Cup isn’t just about goals and trophies, it’s about purpose, potential and progress.

“We’re proud to continue our partnership with ProNation Sports, an organisation that has been putting in the work for over 15 years and creating space for young players to grow, to shine, and to be seen. We’ve seen the value of this partnership, and we’re proud to keep that momentum going,” Hill reiterated.