WESTERN BUREAU:

The fourth annual Stephen 'Shorty' Malcom/Denton Melwood Samuels football tournament gets under way at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday at the Lord's football field in Lucea.

Eighteen teams are participating in this year's tournament, up from 16 last year. The tournament will be held over a three-week period in its usual knockout format.

In Sunday's opening double-header, defending champions Prosper FC of Lucea will face Kew United. This will be followed by an interesting match-up between the Hanover police football sqaud and the Hanover fire department.

Other participating teams include Esher, Church Street, Rock River, Brissett, Hill Stars, Chambers Pen, Heartbreak, Johnson Town, Malcom Heights, HQ, Taxi, Hill Star, Central and Haughton Gardens.

Cash prize

In the finals, set for January 25, teams will vie for the championship trophy named in the deceased men's honour and cash prize of $50,000. The runners-up will receive $20,000 and a trophy. There will also be sectional cash prizes for the leading goalscorer and the most valuable player.

The competition was first staged in 2005 in memory of the late former Rusea's High School and national footballer, Stephen 'Shorty' Malcolm, and the late Denton 'Melwood' Samuels, also a former Rusea's and national Under-23 player.

It is being spearheaded by the Hanover Sports Development Council and sponsored by Hanoverian expatriate Lloyd 'Bagga' Stewart, who grew up in the community of Johnson Town before migrating to England.

Stewart told The Gleaner that the Lucea community was eagerly anticipating the beginning of the tournament. He said he was happy with the discipline and good sportsmanship which had been displayed in last year's tournament.

Discipline improved

"Last year, the discipline was improved over the year before and so we are hoping to make it better this year. No red cards were issued and very few players received yellow cards. People are looking forward to it. A lot of youngsters from the high schools will be playing," he said.

"Hill Stars football team from St James have been invited to play in the tournament. That team is made up of footballers mainly from Anchovy, where 'Shorty' Malcolm originated, because the purpose of the competition is to keep 'Shorty' and Melwood's memory alive and to keep the unity and strength of the youngsters in the Lucea community together," he added.