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Contact:
Ryan O’ Brian
Tuesday, October 20, 2004 - Secondary Schools on the island are currently
participating in sports competition organised by the Department of Youth and
Sports, within the Ministry of Education, Human Resource Development, Youth and
Sports, following the official launch last week.
The Department has scheduled netball, football and basketball competitions in
two categories – students under 16 years and under 19 years. In the netball
competition, 20 schools are competing in the initial stage and have been divided
into four groups.
Twenty-one schools, also placed in four groups are contesting the under-16
football, and in the under-19 category, 19 schools are competing in the four
groups.
In Basketball, 13 schools are contesting at the under-16 level and are placed in
three groups, while the under-19 category caters for 15 teams in three groups.
Youth and Sports Officer, Michael Pierre said that the inter-schools programme
was an integral part of the Ministry’s function, as it helps prepare students to
move on to national, regional and international competition.
“We want to make sure that when the players leave school, they have left the
school with all the skills necessary to participate in club football, in
national football and regional football, hence a lot of emphasis is placed on
the physical education programme and the sporting programme within the Secondary
schools”, Mr. Pierre said. He pointed out however, that “for us to reap the just
reward, the Associations and the clubs must work hand in hand to ensure that
there is a proper club structure, so that when these guys or these individuals
leave school, they do not fall by the wayside and they have a ready niche that
they could turn to.”
He added that the competitions had been running smoothly, despite the absence of
complete sponsorship. Mr. Pierre was high in praise for the Micoud Secondary
School, which won the United Insurance Secondary Schools’ cricket competition,
beating the Leon Hess Comprehensive Secondary School by 19 runs at the
Beausejour Cricket ground last Friday.
“It is fitting”, he said, “that Micoud has crowned the sporting year with
success, because they have been very consistent over the past year, almost
dominating the under-16 and under-19 volleyball tournament. Mr. Pierre also
informed that Micoud was the current champions of the under-19 football
tournament. So it appears that the Micoud Secondary have their eyes and their
hearts on capturing the award for the most successful school in the department
of youth and sports sporting calendar.”
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