CAY HILL—Nearly 40 teams from both sides of the island, approximately 400 athletes in total, are expected to compete in the first Reuben Essed Football Tournament at Raoul Illidge Sports Complex Saturday.
The competition will be divided into groups of Under 7, Under 9, Under 11 and Under 13.
The tournament, hosted by the RISC Takers Football Club is to honour their beloved and respected trainer Coach Reuben who passed away just over one year ago.
“My father believed and instilled in all his players if you make a commitment be a man of your word and keep it,” said his son Joeri Essed. “My father never missed a practice. Did not matter how he felt. He was always on time.”
Essed, a former member of the RISC Takers who now lives and works in Panama, flew to St. Maarten to watch the competition.
“My father was very serious in everything he did,” said Essed. “It may have been his military training.”
“I did not know this, my mom just told me,” he continued. “When my father switched from coaching the U-15 down to the U-9 he actually went on the internet to look for help as to how to coach the younger kids.”
Coach Ruben was both community and environmentally minded said Jeroen van Dorresteijn, who coached with Essed.
In keeping with these ideals, teams from both sides of the island were invited to participate in the competition. Also, there will be no single use water bottles on the field. Instead reusable cups with the tournament logo will be given to each player.
“This competition really kicks off the start of the soccer season for both sides of the island.” said tournament committee member Bertrand Peters. “It is our hope that one day we can have a joint Island wide competition, not just a one-day tournament.”
The Reuben Essed Football Tournament is set to kick off at 8:30am. Players are expected to be at the field 15 minutes before the start of their game.
For more information and game schedule visit https://www.tournify.nl/live/risc.
