Coronation Park is the venue for the National Bank of Anguilla-sponsored 19th Annual Primary Schools Football Competition which is now in progress. It commenced on November 2 and will continue until December 1.

Teams in competition

NBA’s Director, Foster Rogers, told the participating students that they stood before him as future teachers, lawyers, doctors, construction workers and persons who would fulfil the dreams of Anguilla in the next generation. In short, they were the building blocks of Anguilla.

“This competition instils in you character, fair play, a competitive spirit and a way of solving disputes on the field,” he stated. He told them that for the next few weeks they would be competing in a friendly way to solve differences – that is…to show that they were the best team for their respective schools.
He hoped that likewise they would find a way of handling their other differences without violence, rancour and in a very respectful manner.

Teams in competition

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports, Youth, Education and Culture, Rodney Rey, said the National Bank was not a large multi-national bank but it had the development of Anguilla, and particularly the young people, at heart.

“Everywhere in the world Governments are putting a lot of money into sports,” Mr. Rey said. “We are hoping that from this competition the budding stars of Anguilla will be identified; and the Anguilla Football Association, which is involved in this competition, will identify those who will go forward to represent Anguilla at various levels.”

NBA, Education and Sports Officials

He stressed the importance of team work in competitions and hoped that the youngsters would learn to work together.
Education Officer, Primary and Pre Primary, Veda Harrigan, said the competition was an event of great enthusiasm for everyone and that the students were very lucky to have NBA sponsoring the competition for 19 consecutive years.

Principal of the Valley Primary School and representative of the Anguilla Football Association, Allison Hughes, congratulated NBA for its continued sponsorship of the competition. She encouraged the boys and girls to play well for the fun of the game.

Marisa Gumbs, NBA’s Market Research and Business Development Officer, chaired the proceedings and gave the Vote of Thanks. She said the bank was proud to be celebrating its 19th Annual Primary Schools Football Tournament. “Such dedication from the bank is indeed commendable and further demonstrates its commitment to the development of youth in the Anguillian community,” she added.

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