A number of outstanding youth players from the primary, preparatory and under-14 levels of football in Jamaica will hone their skills at the second staging of the All-Star Football Competition, scheduled for Sunday, February 2, 2025 at the Constant Spring Football Field in St. Andrew.

The star-studded teams will include standout players from the Jamaica Independent Schools Association (JISA) Preparatory and Primary School’s Leagues as well as the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) Under-14 Football Competition.

According the tournament’s Technical Director, Haron Martin, the best players from the league were chosen and will compete against each other.

However, this year more players at the preparatory and primary level will get the opportunity to compete for top honors in the competition.

“We wanted to give more players an opportunity to participate. Last year each team had 20 players each; this year we have increased the number to 30 players. Based on this number we will spilt the competition into two A and B teams. The winners of these matches will vie for the top spot,” Martin said.

The selection process, he said, included discussions with the coaches from different teams that advanced to the quarter finals of each competition.

“The schools at the primary level will include St Aloysius, Rosseau, Mona Heights and Iris Gelley; while the preparatory teams will include players from St. Peter and Paul, Lannaman’s, Vaz Prep Mona, Hillel, Emanuel Christian Academy Liberty Academy, Wolmer’s, Hydel, American International School of Kingston and El Instituto de Mandevilla,” Martin said.

At the Under-14 level, the teams will consist of schools north grouped and south grouped of Kingston combined together.

“The South grouped team will include players from Kingston College, St George’s College, Wolmer’s Boys School, Excelsior High and Holy Trinity. Overall, twenty players will be on this squad,” Martin said.

“On the North grouped team, 20 players were also chosen from schools including Jamaica College, Calabar, Hillel Academy, Campion College, St. Andrew Technical High School, St. Catherine High and Eltham High,” he said.

The winners of the playoffs will receive a trophy that will remain with the respective team coaches for one year.

Martin said the training sessions leading up to the competition have been going well, and all the players are excited to participate and entertain the spectators.

“Everyone is ready to go!” he said.

Meanwhile, Kemar Edwards, head coach of the all-prep team, said they have worked with a number of the players over the years, in competitions and by club associations, and as such they are familiar with their abilities.

“The players will come out and do their best. We have talented players from the various teams, and they will be gunning to represent themselves and their schools,” Edwards said.

Conceptualizer and Tournament Director, Leighton Davis, said he was happy to give the rising stars of Jamaican football a platform to showcase their talent.

“Our main goal is to invest into grassroots football and help grow the sport locally,” Davis said.

The main sponsor for the event is Project 2 Project Ltd while Guardian Life and MDS Limited will provide hydration through their Splirt brand.

Blaktie Images will provide all signages for the event while Yardie sport, along with MG Sports, are the social media sponsors.

Gates open at 1:30pm with games being played 1:30 pm, 3:00pm and 4:00pm respectively.