Former national football players Allan ‘Skill’ Cole and Walter ‘Blacka Pearl’ Boyd will be honoured at the inaugural staging of the 2024 All Star Football Tournament, set for Sunday, February 25, 2024 at the Constant Spring Football Field in St. Andrew.
The winners of the two playoffs will receive trophies named in honour of Cole and Boyd, who represented Jamaica at the highest level on the national and international arena.
Both Cole and Boyd will be on-hand to present the trophies to the winning teams. The respective trophies will remain with the team coaches for one year.
Competition Director Haron Martin said the training sessions have been going well and the players are in high spirits as they look forward to Sunday’s games.
“The players are excited about the tournament. They are very focused and have been preparing well to represent their teams and showcase their talent,” Martin said.
“We are also upbeat about the tournament, and we anticipate that the players will get the kind of exposure that they deserve,” he added.
An All-Prep team will square off against an All-Primary team; while at the Under14 level; the teams will consist of schools north grouped and south grouped of Kingston combined together. They will compete against each other for trophy bragging rights.
According to Tournament Director, Leighton Davis, the competition will showcase the best youth talents that will prove to be an exciting and entertaining showpiece for the spectators.
“This tournament is to highlight and reward players who have done well throughout the season. These types of games will help players develop and improve because they are playing against the best of the best,” Davis said.
Main sponsor for the event is Project 2 Project Consultancy; with MDS Limited, the hydration sponsor and 876 Stream the social media sponsor, Blacktie Images and Insight Studios.
Gates open at 1:00pm with games being played 2:30pm and 4:00pm respectively.
Napoli 0-2 Bologna: Champions League-chasing Rossoblu down tame hosts
Napoli saw their winless run extend to five games after Bologna secured a 2-0 win with two quickfire goals at their lacklustre hosts in Serie A on Saturday.
Forward Dan Ndoye gave Bologna the lead in the ninth minute, heading home from point-blank range, before defender Stefan Posch nodded in to double the advantage three minutes later following a corner.
Napoli should have pulled one back soon after when they were awarded a penalty for Remo Freuler's foul on Victor Osimhen but Bologna goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia kept out Matteo Politano's low shot.
Bologna, at least temporarily, moved up to third on 67 points, leapfrogging Juventus – with 66 – who host relegated Salernitana on Sunday.
Napoli are eighth on 51 points as last season's Scudetto winners continue to struggle to match their heroics from the previous term.
Rodgers hits back at criticism as Rangers triumph puts Celtic on brink of title
Brendan Rodgers hit back at his critics after Celtic overcame Rangers to put one hand on the Scottish Premiership title, with the Bhoys manager suggesting he had been treated "like a novice".
Rodgers' side moved six points clear of Rangers after Saturday's 2-1 victory at Parkhead, needing only a point ahead of Wednesday's trip to Kilmarnock to secure the top-flight trophy.
Soon-to-be champions Celtic have struggled at times after Rodgers' return to the club, though the former Liverpool boss has been hampered by injuries to numerous key players.
Cameron Carter-Vickers, Reo Hatate, Callum McGregor and Daizen Maeda have all suffered from fitness struggles this term, though Celtic have still responded to move within touching distance of the title.
Earlier in the season, former Celtic striker Chris Sutton suggested Rodgers was "going through the motions" after defeats against Hearts and Kilmarnock – and Rodgers clearly took note of those comments.
"From a professional perspective there will be doubt," Rodgers told his post-match press conference after downing Rangers.
"From a personal perspective, I am surprised in a way where I heard somebody saying 'Brendan Rodgers was going through the motions' earlier in the season.
"Now, I get to work between half seven and eight o'clock every day of my life. I leave the training ground between half six and seven o'clock at night. And then when I get home, I have my dinner and probably flip on the computer and watch more football.
"Now, if that's going through the motions, I want to know what every other manager is doing. So, from a personal level, I have been treated like a novice since I've come back here. Like it's my first job.
"However, my first objective is to make sure Celtic win. Part of that is a part of the criticism and I understand that.
"But it's the mentality of the team that is most important to me, and that mentality you can see from where we were, with injuries, how we progressed, how we stayed unified and together, and how we then get to this point where we are nearly crossing the finishing line.
"And we don't just want to cross it, we want to sprint over it. We have two games to go, plus a final, and that is our mentality."
Rodgers and Celtic's celebrations could start sooner than Wednesday, if Rangers fail to beat Dundee the day before.
Another title would mark Celtic's 54th Scottish Premiership trophy and their 12th in the last 13 seasons.
Soucek dedicates win over Luton to 'unbelievable' departing manager Moyes
Tomas Soucek dedicated his side's victory over Luton Town to David Moyes as the West Ham manager signed off at home in winning ways.
West Ham confirmed earlier this week that Moyes is to depart London Stadium at the end of the season when his contract expires.
The Hammers defeated Luton 3-1 in Saturday's Premier League contest, with Moyes given a strong ovation before, during and after the match.
Soucek, who netted either side of goals from James Ward-Prowse and youngster George Earthy, is grateful for what Moyes has done.
"It is tough to take. The manager has been unbelievable and improved this club a lot," he told BBC Sport.
"We wanted to get the win for him and we're happy that we did in the second half. It was tough at the beginning but it's a good win for everyone."
West Ham's comeback victory snapped their latest four-game winless streak in all competitions, which included a 5-0 loss at Chelsea last week.
Moyes, who guided United to Europa Conference League glory last year, was glad to bow out with three points in front of a fanbase that has at times been divided over his future.
"I go away from here with great memories," said Moyes, whose side conclude their campaign at Manchester City next weekend.
"The club is a brilliant club and has so much room for improvement. It can step up again and I hope that they do. The crowds here are huge and we had a great crowd today.
"I have lots of great memories here. We have beaten a lot of the bigger sides at home and the biggest thing is that West Ham are back on the map."
Luton took the lead in East London through Albert Sambi Lokonga inside six minutes, but they were unable to hold on for a much-needed win.
The Hatters have just one win in their past 16 matches and now look all but certain to be relegated after just one season in the top flight.
Nottingham Forest require just one point from games with Chelsea and Burnley to confirm Luton's relegation.
However, the Hatters' vastly inferior goal difference means they effectively cannot catch Forest, even if every remaining result goes in their favour.
Town boss Rob Edwards had tears in his eyes when he applauded the away fans at full-time as he accepted his side's fate after a gruelling campaign.
"I was emotional at the end with the way our supporters reacted," he said. "I can only say thanks to the players, the staff and our fans.
"We haven't got over the line but we've done it before and we can be back here again. It's a world all about results but our fans have shown understanding and total support.
"There is a connection and a bond that you can see. That doesn't happen very often. We have grown so much, this club is only going in one direction.
"The growth this team have shown makes me really proud. I care about how we go about it and to show the competitive nature we have been able to bring to the league makes us all better. In the end it's just been too much for us."
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