The 2023 SLFA/Blackheart Knockout Football Tournament is set to kick off in top gear on Saturday and Sunday, September 2 and 3, 2023, at the Dennery Playing Field with the Big 8 Tournament.
The Big 8 Tournament, which is held annually just before the official Blackheart Knockout Football Tournament, features the top eight teams in the previous year’s Blackheart Knockout Football Tournament. This year’s Big 8 draw features the following fixtures:
| Desruisseaux | vs | Soufriere | GAME 1 – 5:00 p.m. |
| La Clery | vs | Marchand | GAME 2 – 6:10 p.m. |
| Vieux Fort South | vs | Gros Islet | GAME 3 – 7:15 p.m. |
| Anse La Raye | vs | Dennery | GAME 4 – 8:20 p.m. |
Each match will comprise of 60 minutes with halftime after 30 minutes. The winner of the final match gets $5,000.00 for their youth development programme. Admission to the venue is $10.00 per person.
This year’s Big 8 Tournament is symbolic for two reasons: it’s being held at the venue of the home team which won both the Big 8 Tournament and Blackheart Knockout Football Tournament last year.
A press briefing was held on Thursday, August 24, 2023, at Olympic House in La Clery, where David “Shakes” Christopher, CEO of Blackheart Productions, said the tournament continues to be an avenue where teams get the chance to showcase their talents.
“This is the World Cup of Saint Lucia, where footballers from all nineteen leagues on the island come together to really express themselves and bring joy to the community,” he said. “Football brings the community together.”
Meanwhile, Evastus Augustin, Assistant Secretary of the St. Lucia Football Association (SLFA), said the SLFA continues to partner with Blackheart Productions to ensure that the game’s integrity is maintained and everything is compliant with FIFA regulations.
This year, the tournament is being held under the theme, “Shoot Goals, Not Bullets”, as organizers continue to encourage people to find better ways to resolve conflicts. Augustin noted that the theme resonates with the SLFA’s own anti-violence campaign.
“The SLFA loves the theme being used in light of the violent issues in Saint Lucia,” he said. “Football is a medium for bridging communities, and can be used to actually minimize a lot of the social ills. It affords our communities to be in an economic spin, where people can reap a lot of positives.”
Following the conclusion of the Big 8 Tournament, the Blackheart Knockout Football Tournament will begin the following weekend at the Dennery Playing Field. Below are the fixtures.
*Tournament Openers (Dennery Playing Field): Saturday, September 9th and Sunday, September 10th
*Philip Marcellin Grounds, Vieux Fort: Wednesday, Sept. 13th
*Soufriere Stadium, Soufriere: Saturday, Sept. 16th and Sunday, September 17th
*Philip Marcellin Grounds, Vieux Fort: Wednesday, September 20th
*Semifinals: Saturday, September 23rd — Daren Sammy Cricket Ground
*Finals and Peace & Unity Concert: Saturday, September 30th — Daren Sammy Cricket Ground
Among the highlights for this year’s tournament are safe spaces for children at the venues, more partnerships within the communities, and the Peace & Unity Concert that will begin immediately after the big Final on Saturday, September 30, at Daren Sammy Cricket Ground featuring international and Saint Lucian artistes.
SOURCE: Blackheart Productions
