Grasspiece Promotions along with major sponsors C3 High Speed Internet, TV and Phone, platinum sponsors Pepsi, Aquafina and the Ministry of Health, Sports, Youth and Culture, and in association with the Cayman Islands Football Association, Sunset Football Club, and a number of other corporate sponsors, present the 2014 C3 Cayman International Youth Football Tournament from Tuesday, February 18th to Saturday, February 22nd.

Teams participating in this inaugural youth football tournament include the Cayman Islands Select Team that performed admirably in the recent CONCACAF Under 15 Championships in August, the Under 15 team from English League 1 outfit Swindon Town Football Club that previously toured the Cayman Islands in 2012 and 2013, and the Under 15 team from Major League Soccer’s Houston Dynamo from Houston, Texas. The three teams will compete in a ‘round-robin’ tournament.

Swindon Town FC will arrive on Sunday, February 16th and the Houston Dynamo will be on the Island on Wednesday, February 19th. The youngsters from Swindon Town FC will play the Cayman Islands Select Team on Tuesday, February 18th and the Houston Dynamo on Thursday, February

20th. The final game of the competition will be the Cayman Islands Select Team versus the Houston Dynamo on Saturday, February 22nd. All games are scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the Annex Field in George Town will be preceded by games featuring the best Under 14 and Under 13 Caymanian footballers.

Marketing and Sales Manager, Crystal Gomez of major sponsors C3 said, “C3 is excited to be a part of this youth football tournament. C3 is Cayman’s first truly local high speed fiber-optic network, created by Caymanians, for the people of the Cayman Islands. We are committed to improving the level of internet, TV, and phone service on the island by installing our own brand new, fiber-optic cables to the home and bringing in a new era of home entertainment.”

C3’s Managing Director, Randy Merren went on to express his excitement regarding the partnership,

“C3 is proud to be the premier sponsors of the 2014 Cayman International Youth Football Tournament, which not only promotes local talent but also gives our players the opportunity to develop their skills against overseas competition. We encourage everyone to come out and support the teams. Patrons will be given the opportunity to ‘kick to win’ during halftime of each game and have a chance to take home a flat screen television or tablet to enjoy C3’s digital TV services.”

“It takes discipline, perseverance and local support to reach a goal and we think this tournament is a direct representation of the values of this company.” Mr. Merren said in closing.

In addition to the three games, coaches from the visiting teams will be conducting free camps for players and local coaches on the Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Annex Field and Ed Bush Fields.

“It’s gearing up to be a very exciting and entertaining week for youth football,” commented Grasspiece Promotions spokesperson Neil Murray. “Thanks to major sponsors C3 and other corporate sponsors, we are able to once again showcase Cayman’s talented youngsters in action against top opposition from the United Kingdom and for the first time, opposition from the United States.”

The Under 15 team from Swindon Town FC features three prominent Caymanian youngsters – Sebastian Martinez, Kray Foster and Nathan Borde. Unfortunately for young Mr. Foster, an injury sustained in December 2013 will keep him out of action for three months and he will be unable to participate with his team mates in the tournament.

Sebastian Martinez has been with Swindon Town’s Youth Academy since October 2011. Young Martinez’s contracts were made possible by Swindon Town FC’s talent scout and former Swindon Town player and Reggae Boy Fitzroy Simpson. Mr. Simpson’s recommendation to take Sebastian to Swindon Town FC was supported by the Cayman Islands Government and through a collaborative effort between the then Ministries of Youth and Sports, Education and Development, and Sebastian’s parents, Martinez’s contracts, which includes his continued education, were made possible.

This third visit will also feature a third young Caymanian, Nathan Borde, who recently joined Swindon Town’s Youth Academy in August 2013 after spending time with Sheffield Wednesday’s Youth Academy. As with Sebastian and Kray, Nathan’s acceptance at Swindon Town’s Youth Academy was through the tireless efforts of Mr. Simpson.

The tournament will mark the first time that the Under 15 team from the Houston Dynamo has ventured south to the Cayman Islands. In October 2013, Sunset Football Club travelled to Houston with Under 13 and Under 15 teams and played practice matches against teams from the Dynamo’s Youth Academy. On this trip, Sunset FC will play host to the visitors from Texas.

Tickets for the tournament are $25.00 for the three games or $10.00 per game and are available at the gate. In addition, children under 13 will be charged $1.00 at the gate with all proceeds from the event covering expenses for the visiting teams.

For further information on the tournament and camps, please contact 925-3323 or e-mail [email protected].