The second edition of the pan-regional tournament provides access to football for over 2,000 boys and girls across the Caribbean
Miami (Tuesday, November 12, 2019) –The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) and Scotiabank announced today the Scotiabank Concacaf Next Play Cup. The second edition of this invitational youth tournament will be held from November 28 to December 7, in four Concacaf Member Association countries, specifically: the Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. 

The pan-regional competition, held in collaboration with Scotiabank and each of the participating Member Associations, is a pillar of Concacaf NextPlay, a comprehensive grassroots development program. Inspired by the diverse communities served by the Confederation, as well as its mission, the program emphasizes the commitment of Concacaf to social responsibility and Scotiabank’s commitment to the communities it operates. It promotes access to football as well as fostering social values, including hard work, fair play, inclusion, teamwork and respect.

Over 2,000 boys and girls ages 10 to 11 will participate in the tournament which will feature a total of 224 schools within the Caribbean. Before the action on the field kicks off, the children will participate in an academy to learn the fundamentals of how to play the sport, as well as social values and skills that will be vital to their development as well rounded young people. Beginning in October 2019, the academy consists of a one-month afterschool program imparted by 230 Concacaf coaches and volunteers, who have been trained in grassroots football and safeguarding awareness to ensure they can provide safe and welcoming development programs for participants.

“We are very excited to join forces with our partner Scotiabank and Member Associations to host the second edition of our Scotiabank Concacaf NextPlay Cup,” said Concacaf President Victor Montagliani. “By providing children in our region with more access to play football and opportunities to grow up healthier, we can help develop their talents, skills and intellect to succeed in life.”

For Scotiabank, football is a passion that is shared with its customers, employees and communities. The Bank supports football at all levels in Latin America and the Caribbean, be-cause of the values it teaches and its ability to transform individuals and build stronger, more vibrant communities.  

“Scotiabank is proud to partner with Concacaf to execute this program for the second year in a row,” said Yanique Forbes-Patrick, Director of Public Affairs and Communications, Scotia-bank (English Caribbean). “We believe that through sports initiatives such as the Scotiabank Concacaf NextPlay Academy and Cup, we provide development opportunities for our future generations in the communities where we operate, demonstrating Scotiabank’s commitment to helping young people have a better future. Scotiabank also continues to support youth development through the Scotiabank Football Club Program, a global platform that promotes the values of leadership, respect, integrity, teamwork, discipline and responsibility. Since 2014, more than 450,000 young people have benefited from the Scotiabank Football Club Program in the Caribbean and Latin America”, she added.

Scotiabank is proud of its deep roots and strong commitment in the Concacaf regions supporting current and future football stars since 2014 when it became Concacaf’s official partner. 

As part of Scotiabank’s support for communities, the Bank will invest more than USD$65,000 across the region to carry out a legacy program where winning schools from all four countries will be able to enhance the sports facilities of their choice. With this, Scotiabank seeks to have a meaningful impact on its communities and promote spaces where children and youth can come together, reinforce life skills and values, and work for a better future. 

Participating Concacaf Member Associations have sanctioned the Scotiabank Concacaf NextPlay Cup, recognizing it as a top-class youth football competition. The primary partners of the tournament are the local Ministries of Education, which have approved the schools’ participation with the aim of creating a unified competition that promotes the practice of sports and transcends national, cultural, and socioeconomic barriers.

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