The Kenson Casimir Bay Bay Cup football competition is gathering strong momentum, delivering exciting matchups on the field while reinforcing its wider purpose of youth engagement, community pride and positive social development across Gros Islet and neighbouring communities.
The tournament recently made its first stop at the refurbished Grande Riviere Playing Field, where defending national club champions GMC United and reigning Bay Bay Cup holders Northern United FC both registered their first victories of the competition.
GMC United delivered a dominant 4–0 win over Dominators FC to move into second place in Group A.
The Bay Bay Cup is spearheaded by Gros Islet Member of Parliament and Minister for Education, Youth Development, Sports and Digital Transformation, Kenson Casimir, who has consistently championed sport as a powerful tool for youth intervention, discipline and community cohesion.
“This tournament is not just about football,” Casimir said. “It’s about keeping our young people engaged, giving them structure and purpose, and creating positive spaces where talent, teamwork and discipline can flourish. When communities come out to support, you can see and feel the impact.”
Casimir emphasized that the Bay Bay Cup plays a meaningful role in crime prevention and youth empowerment, particularly by reducing idle time and creating opportunities for young men to channel their energy productively.
“When young people are on the field training, competing and representing their communities, they are building confidence and character,” he noted. “They are far less likely to end up on the wrong path. That is the real value of this competition.”
The Minister also highlighted the importance of infrastructure development, pointing to the recent refurbishment of the Grande Riviere Playing Field and the installation of new lighting, which allowed the venue to host night matches safely for the first time.
“The refurbished Grande Riviere Playing Field and the lights are not cosmetic upgrades, they are investments in people,” Casimir said. “Proper lighting allows us to host games safely at night, extend training hours, and create a space where families can gather and communities can feel proud. This is how infrastructure should support sport, safety and social development.”
He added that improved facilities send a powerful message to athletes and residents alike. “When players step onto a proper field under proper lights, it tells them their talent matters and their community believes in them,” Casimir said.
Beyond the sporting action, Casimir noted that the tournament brings wider benefits to communities by stimulating small business activity and strengthening social bonds as matches rotate through different venues. “The Bay Bay Cup belongs to the people,” he said. “By taking it into different communities, we ensure inclusion, shared ownership and real benefits for residents.”
The competition continues this Sunday, February 8, 2026, at the Francis Baba Lastic Grounds, with two highly anticipated clashes: 5:00 p.m. – Northern United FC vs Police FC and 7:00 p.m. – GMC United vs New Generation FC
As the Kenson Casimir Bay Bay Cup progresses, organizers and supporters alike expect both the intensity on the pitch and the turnout in the stands to continue rising, a strong example of how sport can drive positive community change.
