Photo Caption: (From left) Rudolph Speid, president of the Kingston & St. Andrew Football Association; Marsha-Ann Hay, Futbol Grand Prix project manager and David Shirley, Chairman and Executive Director of Locker Room Sports share a light moment at the launch of the Futbol Grand Prix Beach Football Tournament at the New Barbican Beach. The Tournament is slated to kick off on Monday, July 14 and the exciting format will be broadcast live on CVM TV through to the final on Friday, August 1.
Kingston, Jamaica; On Monday, July 14, Image One Sports Development‟s FutbolGrand Prix Tournament will present the compelling beach football format. The tournament follows the events of the FIFA World Cup and will be played over three weeks, at the New Barbican Beach with a grand final on Emancipation Day, Friday,August 1. Sixteen teams are set to compete for what has been dubbed, the FreedomCup and a whopping $1,000,000 cash prize.
The tournament brings together top players from across the island to test their mettle ina riveting knock out format. With the first match day, immediately following the WorldCup final, “football fever‟ is expected to be at an all time high and with most of the top leagues locally and internationally on break, this enthralling event will be a great sourceof fun, excitement, entertainment and socialization.
Ainsley Lowe, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Image One Jamaica is excited to present such an enthralling version of the game to local sports and entertainment fans with the inaugural staging of the tournament.
“This tournament is something we are extremely delighted and proud to present to the Jamaican people and potentially, wider television audience. Our aim is to redefine the presentation of sporting events to incorporate culture and entertainment as fundamental features which attracts a wider cross section of fans. The timing is perfect,following the World Cup and leading up to the restart of the major competitions,” says Lowe.
The teams are expected to be unveiled in the coming weeks as the pre tournament build- up gains momentum. Following this initial installment the Futbol Grand Prix is expected to become an annual tournament which will eventually expand to attract more teams.
Beach football had been played recreationally all over the world for many years and in many different formats until the football association developed specific rules for the sport in 1992. The irregularity of the soft-sand playing surface leads to a completely different style of play, with a greater degree of improvisation needed. The compact pitch,allows players to shoot and score from anywhere on the sand which produces up to sixty(60) shots on goal with an average of eleven (11) goals per game.
The inaugural Futbol Grand Prix Tournament was launched on Wednesday, June 4 and kicks off on Monday, July 14, a day after the FIFA World Cup Final. Beach football is the perfect sport which combines skill, agility and shooting on goal as key components, making it one of the most entertaining and action packed events to witness.
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