Youth talent to take spotlight in All-Star Jamaica showdown
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s emerging football talent will be on display on Sunday, April 26, when the All-Star Jamaica youth showcase takes place at Ashenheim Stadium on the grounds of Jamaica College.
The event will feature a North versus South format, highlighting top Under-14 and Under-16 players drawn from urban school competitions.
The headline encounter will see the North Urban All-Star Under-16 team facing the South Urban All-Star Under-16 outfit in what is expected to be a competitive contest.
The initiative, conceptualised by Leighton Davis, focuses on identifying and showcasing youth talent emerging from schoolboy football.
It has developed into a platform connecting grassroots players with more structured pathways, including school competitions and national youth programmes.
Players selected for the showcase are drawn from high schools participating in the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) Under-14 and Under-16 competitions.
Coaches nominate players, after which organisers review and finalise the squads.
The showcase is seen as an important stage in development, particularly at the Under-16 level, where players begin transitioning towards higher levels of competition and broader opportunities.
The double-header will begin with the Under-14 match at 2:15 pm, followed by the Under-16 feature game at 4:00 pm.
Gates open at 1:00 pm.
