Sports is seen as the panacea for so many social ills, but can it increase the peace between rival neighborhoods? That's what the CYDP hopes with the launching of a football tournament that starts tonight.
12 teams from 10 city neighborhoods will participate in the tournament which will last a few months and be played at the MCC grounds. And to encourage participation without hassle, the CYDP with help from corporate friends and a major contribution form government, is sponsoring the whole thing: every football, every pair of boots, and every jersey. Director of the programme Edward Broaster told us why it will make a difference.
Supt. Edward Broaster, Director, CYDP
"These outfits are for our socialization, a component of our socialization programme whereby we are having young people from across Belize City from different areas engage in football competition. We believe this process will enable them to integrate more with each other and get to know each other and thus and get to know each other and thus decrease the level of hostility and animosity which resort to fatal violence on the streets of Belize City.
Shane "Chucky" Flores, Yabra
"I feel like instill positive role for the youths them and keep their mind busy, keep them active, you know, keep them active. Due to the violence in the street, I feel like by playing this tournament it will keep the violence down to a lower level.
Denroy Lopez, Kraal Road
"Pah my levels of di aspect this lee tournament da fi keep man close so the system could watch you check cause the system di play they role everybody di play them role,. Da just wah game, right? But da something good to right? But, by this right ya,l they bally got you close. You check? Yeah"
Mike Diaz, Faber's Road
"I think da wah good thing man because you know at least we get the youths them offa di street and di violence and crime at least we could decrease pahn di violence and thing and you know everybody get fi know one another, so we got something, at least the youth them have something fi occupy them mind with so that lotta ahm negative thinking, they could bring it to the field you know cause then da less mental towards that negative thing so they will bring more positive thing to the field cause they have to think bout the ball now and they want win the tournament."
Supt. Edward Broaster, Director, CYDP
"I believe that this will definitely enable the environment in the city among the young persons to get to know each other and get to work with each other."
Each team will play 11 games. Government contributed twelve thousand dollars, Telemedia matched that, and Mirage put in five thousand dollars.
