The Jamaica Football Federation’s (JFF) acting director of football, Wendell Downswell, says the recently concluded Institute of Sports (INSPORTS) Challenge Cup is a brilliant concept that should be replicated across all parishes, culminating with a champion of champions knockout tournament between parish winners.

The two-week, preseason schoolboy football tournament, organised by the state-owned Institute of Sports, had eight high schools contesting for top cash prize of $100,000. Second place received $50,000, while $30,000 was disbursed to each participating team.

The tournament, involving six Manning Cup and two daCosta Cup teams, has received high praises from all quarters for its vision and well-organised execution which saw St Catherine High defeating Eltham High in the August 30 final at Spanish Town Prison Oval.

One of Downswell’s mandates as director of football is to pay specific attention to youth development programmes, and the former national youth coach, who was present for the final, believes a structured preseason tournament like this would be an excellent precursor in terms of preparing teams for the schoolboy football season.

“This is an excellent platform, especially in preseason preparation. It is also a step in the right direction as it relates to developing camaraderie and harmony and fair play, so it’s an excellent venture,” Downswell said.

“I think they should try target this tournament for another five or six parishes and try to take it as far and wide as it can,” he added.

“It has tremendous potential. if INSPORTS get other major stakeholders to come on board and spread this across the island, it would be a marvelous venture for preseason preparation.

“But it should be a gradual process and we look at another four, five years and what we want to achieve.”

The former national player and schoolboy football coach is also suggesting that the season should climax with a play-off amongst parish champions.

“We could also look at having a super league or champion of champions, where the winners meet in a knockout competition. But they (INSPORTS) would have to sit with the technical experts and structure it, so it can have a greater impact on football in Jamaica,” he reasoned.

Meanwhile, Renardo Smith, who is the agency’s interim administrative director, said the tournament served as a pilot project and that Downswell’s suggestion of going islandwide is really their intention.

“As you can see from the final game of the INSPORTS Challenge Cup and the support it was a success. It’s a pilot programme and I am so happy. It was a great initiative. We look to use this as the springboard and from here we will aim to go islandwide.

“It will help the youngsters prepare for the Manning and daCosta Cup and sharpen their skills. Next year we hope to take it islandwide or at least to other geographical locations, but the aim is to cover the island for all schoolboys who play football,” he said.

In the past, only the top teams were able to arrange sufficient high level practice matches during preseason. Naturally, there is a cost factor attached to these matches, which is a massive burden for many teams. But with the advent of the INSPORTS Challenge Cup, along with its financial reward, attached, a major obstacle for these teams has been resolved.

“It’s quality football and it’s good for the development of the youngsters. It will only be a win-win situation for football,” Downswell said.