Football Tournament
Thursday 14 August 2008
Postcode rivalry will be shaken up by a unique football tournament taking place in Haringey next week.
The HYPE (Haringey Young People Empowered) Cup for 14 to 18 year olds will be played for at Perth Road Playing Fields on Saturday 23 August.
What makes this football tournament unique is that players will not always play in their usual teams. After a team is knocked out players will get the chance to re enter the competition with a team made up of players from all different parts of the borough.
Individual footballers may also attend and will be allocated a team to play with. The organisers are hoping soccer scouts will be among the spectators and that all the young people will be able to show off their excellent skills.
The knock out HYPE Tournament will be held at New River Sports Complex, Perth Road Mini-Soccer pitches and competitors MUST register before playing. The date is Saturday 23 August 2008. The event will start at 10am and will last for 6 hours until 4pm. This time includes the football tournament, speeches and the awards ceremony.
The tournament is organised by HYPE which is part of the Community Police Consultative Group (CPCG) supported by Haringey Council and the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA).
HYPE provides a link between young people from across Haringey and the police and council, helping break the barriers between young people and the authorities. The group wanted to address issues of postcode rivalry and encourage mixing among young people from different parts of the borough, and decided this innovative event might fit the bill.
They also want to encourage better relations between police and young people and to this end have invited police officers from the Safer Neighbourhood Teams to act as referees and coaches. The Metrapolitan Police Authority is paying for the tournament.
Anti-knife and gun crime rhetoric and literature will be displayed on the day which will also champion a healthy diet and lifestyle and encourage young people to develop healthier lifestyles.
Cllr Nilgun Canver, Haringey's cabinet member for enforcement and safer communities, said:
I really hope lots of young people take part in this tournament. It will be very interesting to see if the established teams beat those in the mix. Either way it will be fun and will give some of our talented footballers the chance to show off their skills and win prizes as well as breaking down some social barriers.
Enid Ledgister, director of the CPCG, said:
The Haringey CPCG and the Metropolitan Police Authority recognises the benefits of innovative schemes such as Haringey Young People Empowered, particularly when the aim of the scheme is to engage and unite young people from different communities.
Furthermore the Haringey CPCG is encouraged by the level of involvement of the borough police and their efforts in supporting HYPE to build relations between young people and the police throughout the borough."
Anyone wanting to take part in the tournament should register by telephoning: 07946 089 605 or for more details visit: www.myspace.com/h_ype (external link)
