THE Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has signalled its intention to be a part of the seventh edition of the Milo schools football tournament, continuing their effort to stamp out gender-based violence.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Public Relations Officer (PRO) Terrence Esseboom, contended that this is something that needs to be dealt with. He stated that “the ministry is committed to ending the cycle of gender-based violence through all avenues including sport, because we want to start it at a young age”.

He added, “The MoPH would want you to use the discipline and training from sport and bring them into the social work. It is important for our young men who are inevitably the men of tomorrow and leaders of tomorrow to realise that we are not supposed to go down that road.”

Meanwhile Petra co-director Troy Mendonca added that they are glad to have the invaluable support of the ministry of health once more. “The MoPH has come on board for another year of Milo schools football tournament and we are enthusiastic about their support. We think that having them on board boosts the tournament and their support means a lot to us at Petra.”

The seventh edition of the Milo schools football tournament will see an increase of six teams from 18 to 24 teams when the tournament gets underway next weekend. In a provisional list revealed at the launching, several private institutions have been omitted.

The tournament kicks off next Saturday at Ministry of Education (MoE) ground on Carifesta Avenue and will conclude on April 14.

After two months of heated clashes in the group round-robin format/knockout format, the champions will pocket $500 000, second-placers $300 000 and third-placers $200 000, all towards a project of the school’s choice.