The National Bank of Anguilla’s 20th Annual Primary School Football Tournament, known to attract large crowds from throughout the island, is now in progress for a three-week period at Coronation Ball Park in The Valley.

A vigorous kick from Mr. Banks sends the ball racing to the goal post at Coronation Park

NBA’s Chief Executive Officer, E. Valentine Banks, who kicked off the tournament on October 26, said the long sponsorship was worthy of commendation. He noted, among other matters, that none of the large number of school children now participating in the character-building sport was born when the tournament began in 1988.

L-R: Mr. Guishard, Rev. Weeks, Alkin Rogers, Deslyn Smith, Mr. Val Banks and Marisa Gumbs

“NBA prides itself in having been involved in this tournament over the years. Our pride is not in being able to sound off on our contribution to sport on the island or being part of a high-profile public event like this,” Mr. Banks said at the opening ceremony. “Most importantly, our pride comes from the recognition that universally, it is accepted that organised competitive sport builds character, respect for rules and discipline among other things, and that we at NBA are helping with that here in Anguilla.”

One of the competing teams

Mr. Banks said that the Bank would like to see more of those very positive traits of character-building, respect for rules and discipline exhibited on the island among the youth. He saw organised sport in an education system as an attempt to assist children in becoming physically fit, understanding the value of team-work, discipline, respect for rules and learning how to accept victory with humility and defeat with grace. He added that these elements in sports should be constantly reinforced by physical education teachers, coaches, referees and umpires as well as parents and guardians.

Director of Sports, Alkins Rogers, speaking on behalf of the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Evans Rogers, reminded the children of the opportunities and benefits that could be derived from participation in sporting activities. “This tournament provides positive avenues for our children to develop and excel,” he stated. “They are being provided with opportunities that help to build self-esteem, social skills, discipline and respect for others and respect for the game.”

Other teams at Coronation Park

He made the point that the officials administering sports were charged with the responsibility to guide the children through an important part of their lives and to build future leaders of Anguilla. “As part of the discipline required to perform at the highest level, you must learn to respect decisions of the officials even when it is not in your favour,” he told the young footballers. “It is a challenge you must learn to deal with which will help you to grow and develop and overcome obstacles.”

Mr. Rogers expressed thanks to National Bank for continuing to be a good corporate citizen. “Their long-term commitment, even during periods of economic slowdown, is always reliable and this nationalistic approach will pay immense dividends in the lives of our children; and there is no formula that we can use to quantify the magnitude of this investment,” he went on. He also commended Mr. Banks for playing a significant part in the decision to have the tournament to develop football and the young people of Anguilla.

He encouraged the children to play well and to continue to progress in their young lives and in sports.

Speaking on behalf of the Education Department, Winston Duncan recalled that over the past 20 years the tournament had produced a number of outstanding football players. He stated that NBA and the Education Department had long realised the link between sound bodies and sound minds. He expressed sincere thanks to the Bank, the participating primary schools and their coaches, the Sports Department and the Anguilla Football Association for their continued support.

Other teams at Coronation Park

President of the Anguilla Football Association, Raymond Guishard, congratulated NBA for its 20 years of sponsoring the tournament and was proud of the training of coaches and referees and other assistance provided by his organisation.

“As we look at the accomplishment of the tournament over the past 20 years, we have realised that it is the breeding ground for footballers in Anguilla, Mr. Guishard said, while naming several successful players in the national team who came through the programme. He stated that as a result, his association had undertaken to continue its assistance and to ensure that the tournament was well established and well organised so that some of the current youngsters, learning the game, would become players in national and regional tournaments.

Other persons who participated in the opening ceremony were Rev. Cecil Weekes who gave the invocation, Marisa Gumbs, NBA’s Market Research Business Development Officer who chaired the proceedings and her Support Officer, Desyln Smith, who delivered the Vote of Thanks.

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