Health a priority for KSAFA U-13, U-15 players
In excess of 1,000 juveniles will participate in the 2017 KSAFA/Milo Under-13 and Under -15 football tournaments, it was announced yesterday.
KSAFA president Wayne Shaw, in revealing details of the tournaments at a press launch at Golden Gate Restaurant in Kingston yesterday, said the health of players will be a priority this season.
“No player will be allowed to take the field of play until he is given a clean bill of health by having his ECG (electrocardiogra) test and medical done by the competitions’ medical sponsors, Delgado Health Services,” he noted.
Nestlé, who returns as sponsor through its brand Milo, has committed $8 million that will go toward the purchase of gear for all teams, plus to cover other related costs.
“For over 70 years Milo, the energy food drink for champions, is proud to be fuelling several of these programmes — from track and field across the gamut of football, cricket, table tennis, lawn tennis, basketball, badminton.
“Today we are proud to return to the number one sport on the island, which is football. Football is one of those sporting disciplines which we believe dovetails perfectly for Milo as it embodies teamwork, discipline and determination,” said Ockino Petrie, consumer marketing manager at Nestlé.
As part of the package, Milo trucks will visit communities giving out Milo to children and they will also be providing special prizes at the end of the season. Milo will also host a one-day tournament at the Football Factory to choose boys and girls to attend a one-month camp in Barcelona, Spain, in December.
Under-13 and Under-15 competitions are compulsory for all 35 community-based clubs in the Corporate Area and are designed to provide healthy recreational activities for young players during the summer months away from formal schooling.
The competitions are designed to have both Under-13 and Under-15 teams play games in midweek and on the weekends.
Games for the Under-13s will be played over 60 minutes with 30-minute halves, while Under-15s will play over 70 minutes with 35 minute halves.
— Hurbun Williams