Alexcia Ali was adjudged the “Most Valuable Player” of the newly installed T&T Legacy Cup which climaxed on the weekend at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar.
Premier communication solutions provider, bmobile, continued its unwavering support towards the national development of women’s football by joining arms with the Youth Empowerment and Mentorship Company (YEMCO) to host the inaugural competition.
This first-time initiative was designed to give girls an opportunity to play outside of the usual Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) and the Women’s Football League (WoLF). The Legacy Cup was also geared at revitalising the consistency of women’s football and unearthing hidden talents within the local circuit.
Having previously played an integral role in hosting a Women’s 7-a-side Football Tournament in January of this year, bmobile openly extended its support to enrich the lives of young females, using football as a conduit.
TSTT’s senior manager Corporate Communications, Marsha Caballero, said, “The Foundation understands that sport is not just a recreational activity. It is one of the cornerstones on which we invest in the men and women who make up the community of new leaders. It is our hope that events such as these inspire more girls to play the game and more coaches to commit to it. At bmobile, we are intent on supporting our local women who wish to achieve success via the sporting arena.”
Following three consecutive days of exciting competition, it was T&T Sports Diary taking home the title following a hard fought 1-0 victory over Trincity Nationals in the title match. Aaliyah Prince scored the lone goal in the final. Later her teammate Ali was presented with the top player award for her overall performance during the closing ceremony while Tishauna Orosco of Eastern Counties, was named the “Best Goalkeeper”.
In the third-place playoff, Eastern Counties were outplayed visitors, 340 Girls Soccer Academy, of the US Virgin Islands (USVI), by a 1-0 margin.
Co-ordinator of the Legacy Cup, Jinelle James, was grateful that an increased emphasis was being placed on the development of women’s football within recent months.
“Events like this can help spark and reignite the interest in football, especially at the youth level. We also express our gratitude to bmobile because such tournaments encourage clubs to stay active. They also provide an avenue for teams from throughout the region, like 340 Girls Soccer Academy, to visit and presents an even wider competitive environment for local girls to elevate their game,” said James.
She revealed that plans have already begun to make this event an annual one, with the 2020 version expected to feature a larger contingent of women’s squads, from both the local and international circuit.
“We spoke to the coach of the USVI club, Izler Browne, who is also a Trinbagonian and they began hosting several fundraisers to get here. It shows that women throughout the region want to play. It’s a niche that’s being neglected and why we’re elated to have sponsors show interest in our growth. This speaks volumes for women’s football in T&T,” James said.
The YEMCO co-ordinator also commended the T&T Football Association (TTFA) for sanctioning this tourney, Joel Warrick of Trincity Nationals who played an instrumental role in securing the venue for its successful hosting and bmobile for their crucial sponsorship.