TWO hundred teams registered for last year's annual Republic Bank Youth Football Tournament and organisers expect much more in 2007 after giving them 70,000 reasons to capture the Republic Shield title.
The tournament also caters for seven other categories, including boys and girls teams between the ages 12 to 17 years.
This year, the competition runs from July 8-August 4 and will see teams vying for more than $70,000 in prizes, as well as 12 scholarships valued $200,000 to the week-long Republic Bank football camps which the sponsors host twice annually.
The tournament will be held at venues throughout Trinidad and Tobago, kicking off on July 15 at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet, while other venues and competition dates are: Presentation College, Chaguanas (July 21); Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre (July 22); Eddie Hart Ground, Tacarigua (July 28); Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima (July 29); and the Palo Seco Recreation Ground (August 1).
The grand finals of the tournament take place on August 4 at the Queen's Park Savannah.
Prizes will be awarded for the champion team and runner-up in each category and there will also be incentives for the Most Valuable Player, Most Disciplined Player and Most Promising Player.