AS the Petra Organisation moves closer to kicking off the Republic Bank Schools Football League this Sunday, the organisers took time to brief the competing teams on the rules of the league and provided equipment in the form of footballs.

The tournament features eight of the country’s top footballing teams battling it out from Sunday through to November 30.

The schools are Abram Zuil Secondary School; Three Miles Secondary; President’s College; West Ruimveldt Secondary; Charlestown Secondary; Dolphin Secondary and defending champions Chase Academic Foundation.

Co-Director of the Petra Organisation, Troy Mendonca, at the briefing, charged the student athletes ahead of the tournament to take the opportunity given.

“We are proud of the effort being made by the teachers and the coaches and the students as a part of this tournament. The league is very crucial in a footballing set-up; you are not just playing two to three matches and then you get knocked out and gone home, you have an opportunity to play each other in the tournament, so from a development standpoint, this is one of our favourite tournaments,” he said.

Meanwhile, Manager at Republic Bank, Oral Rose, said, ‘We are so happy to be part of this partnership, we wish you the very best as you embark on this tournament. This league forms part of our power to make a different social investment programme. It helps us to invest in our young people across the country; we are happy to invest in our communities. This exercise brings together players, coaches as well as teachers and our partners Petra Organisation. As you [the] youth embark on this tournament, I want you to play with passion, zeal and respect each other and have a very good competition.”

The winning team along with the second-placed side will earn the right to face teams from Suriname, Brazil, Jamaica and Trinidad in the KFC Goodwill International football series set for December.

The competition will also serve to ready the top teams with ample matches for the December showpiece.

The teams will be vying for $300,000, $200,000, $100,000 and $50,000, along with trophies and medals for places 1- 4 with all monies going to programmes to be undertaken by the schools.

Individual awards will go towards highest goal scorer, best goal keeper and the most disciplined team.