WATERHOUSE-Based Balmagie Primary School retained the Youth Football League (YFL) Champions Cup title after beating Emmanuel Christian Academy 2-1 in the final at the Mona Bowl last Saturday.

Kevin Grant scored twice to lead Balmagie to a second-consecutive Champions Cup crown, was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, and received a $100,000 Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Pocket Rocket Foundation scholarship. Grant also finished as the leading goalscorer.

Grant, who will attend Kingston College (KC), will have his scholarship renewed annually if he maintains the required academic standards.

Balmagie Primary Head Coach Donald Eccleston said defending the title against Jamaica’s best schools made the achievement even more rewarding.

“We came here determined to prove that Balmagie could stand up against the very best, and the boys delivered. Winning back-to-back Champions Cup titles means everything to our school and our community. I couldn’t be prouder of the boys,” Eccleston said.

The invitation-only tournament brought together eight of Jamaica’s top-performing primary and preparatory schools — Balmagie Primary, Clark’s Town Primary, South Borough Primary, Glen Stuart Primary, Emmanuel Christian Academy, Hillel Academy, Lannaman’s Preparatory School and Sts Peter & Paul Preparatory School — for a day of high-quality football and sportsmanship.

Youth Football League Managing Director Paula Pinnock praised the standard of football displayed throughout the tournament while paying special tribute to the families whose support created an inspiring atmosphere.

“The Champions Cup continues to demonstrate the incredible quality that exists within primary and preparatory school football in Jamaica. I am immensely proud of every player, coach and school represented today,” Pinnock said. “However, I especially want to recognise the parents, grandparents, siblings, and family members who spent their Saturday on the sidelines supporting these children.”

Pinnock also encouraged parents to participate in their children’s sporting activities.

“Your presence matters more than you know. Research consistently shows that children whose parents actively attend and support their sporting activities experience greater confidence, improved self-esteem, increased motivation, and are significantly more likely to remain involved in sport over the long term.

“Simply showing up sends a powerful message that their efforts matter. Today wasn’t just about football — it was about family, community and investing in our children’s future,” Pinnock said.

The quarter-final results saw Sts Peter & Paul Preparatory defeat Clark’s Town Primary 3-0; Balmagie Primary overcame Lannaman’s Preparatory School on penalties after a scoreless draw; Emmanuel Christian Academy defeated Glen Stuart Primary 2-0; and Hillel Academy edgedSouth Borough Primary 1-0.

In the Plate competition for teams knocked out in the quarter-finals, Lannaman’s Preparatory defeated Clark’s Town Primary 3-0 before South Borough Primary beat Glen Stuart Primary 1-0 to set up the Plate final during which Lannaman’s Preparatory won the title with a 3-0 victory.

The championship semi-finals saw Balmagie Primary defeat Sts Peter & Paul Preparatory 1-0, while Emmanuel Christian Academy edged Hillel Academy 3-2 before Balmagie completed its title defence with a 2-1 victory over Emmanuel Christian Academy in the final.

The Youth Football League organises four tournaments through partnerships with several organisations. The 2026 Champions Cup was supported by Kemtek, the Pocket Rocket Foundation, JN Group, Crimson Dawn, Pure Water, FYI Consultancy Group, Funland Jamaica, Gatorade and Flow.

Pinnock said preparations have begun for the league’s next season, which will kick off with the Junior Cup in September. She said the Youth Football League remains committed to identifying, developing, and celebrating Jamaica’s next generation of football talent while providing pathways that extend beyond the playing field into education and lifelong personal development.