The Tribune

MARCO City Youth teamed up with The Marco City Free National Movement Association to stage a back-to-school basketball tournament.

The event was designed to create camaraderie among the youth and provide a positive outlet for young people to come together.

The organising committee led by Vance Barr and Kendal Culmer benefitted tremendously from collaborating with Dudley Seide of Reach Out Youth Organisation (ROYO).

Former Senator Michael Pintard and the Marco City FNM team provided the resources and personnel required to stage the event which drew scores of young people participating and watching.

The tournament was competitive and thoroughly enjoyable.

Mr Seide welcomed participants and Mr Pintard spoke to competitors about opportunities sports opens up for young athletes and the importance of being academically sound to take advantage of any scholarship opportunities that might arise. He also emphasised the role sports plays in developing discipline and how important it is to carefully prepare if one was going to succeed at the game on the court or in life. Against the backdrop of the frequent violence in various communities the take away quote he left with the young men and women was “turn to each other, not on each other”.

The tournament series will run for the next four weeks on various parks throughout the constituency.

ROYO teams won both the junior and senior divisions. Trophies were presented at the end of the competition. Next week more activities will be added to the tournament and prizes given out to athletes and spectators.