The National Bank of Anguilla Limited is currently sponsoring its 21st Annual Primary Schools Football Tournament. It commenced at Coronation Park in The Valley on Friday, October 16, ushering in another time of excitement for the young players, their schools, parents and the general public.

The opening ceremony was chaired by Mrs. Deslyn Smith, NBA’s Market Research & Business Development Support Officer.

The Bank’s Chief Financial Officer, Ian Ferguson, told the gathering in his welcome address that through the tournament NBA hoped to continue building a bond and partnership both on and off the playing field. “We trust that despite the colours which distinguish our schools that we are one family and through this tournament we will continue to teach our youth the value of… teamwork and success,” he stated. “Together we will have then developed a positive self-image, talent and skills. The National Bank endeavours to ensure that while under our umbrella the tournament is represented at its best and that it may be an example for others.”

Mr. Ferguson urged the children to play with enthusiasm, have fun and to represent their schools by playing to their best abilities. He extended a hand of friendship and partnership on behalf of NBA which he said was committed to the development of youth and sports in the Anguillian community.

The feature address was delivered by Mrs. Chanelle Petty-Barrett, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. She was pleased with the turn-out, with seven primary schools participating, and commended the coaches, teachers and parents for their time, effort and support in the development of the sporting activity and, by extension, the development of the youth.

“Football has been described in some arenas as the most popular sport in the world and is played in most countries,” she told her listeners. “It transcends international boundaries. The reason for this could be linked to the many benefits which the playing of football offers. From a whole perspective football builds strength, flexibility and endurance.”

She noted that many youngsters were affected by problems due to obesity and inactivity and that football was a sport that encouraged persons to turn off the TV, get off the couch and get some exercise, and also promoted mental health. Among other matters, she referred to the social benefits of the sport, describing it as non-discriminatory and a great way to meet people, and said that self-confidence and pride were two of the positive which could be attributed to the playing of the sport. She stated that, in general, football helps in the development of such social traits as discipline, discipline, teamwork and leadership.

Children from seven primary schools

Mrs. Petty-Barrett thanked the National Bank of Anguilla for being an exceptional corporate citizen, adding that 21 years of sponsorship was by no means a small feat and showed a remarkable commitment to the development of Anguilla’s young people. She looked forward to many years of continued partnership with the Ministry of Social Development in the area of primary school football. She exhorted the players to always be respectable of other players, the officials, to keep a positive attitude and to make their parents and schools proud.

L-R: Mr. Ferguson, Mrs. Petty-Barrett, Mr. Kelsick, Mr. Hazell, Ms. Harrigan, Mrs. Smith ann Pastor Gumbs

Ms Veda Harrigan, Education Officer, Primary/Pre-Primary, said that all students, parents and the general public always looked forward to the tournament with great enthusiasm. She commented that both NBA and the Education Department recognised that nothing generated as much goodwill and positive impact on schools and the society as sports. She commended NBA, one of the longstanding partners, for assisting in providing an all round education for the island’s youth.

Tremendous kick-off by Mr. Ferguson, caught by Romare Kelsick

Second Vice President of the Anguilla Football Association, Rawle Hazell, noted that there was an absence of many parents who should be present to support and encourage their children. He stressed that their support was of great importance in these trying times. He congratulated all the players from the participating six Government Primary Schools and the Central Christian School and appealed to the children to be good sportspersons.

Other persons who participated in the opening ceremony were Pastor Phillip Gumbs who delivered the Invocation, and Romare Kelsick, NBA’s Head of Proof/Data Processing, who gave the Vote of Thanks.

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