For the first time since the Kappa Classic started in 1999, there will be a full complement of teams in all age groups for boys and girls.

When the island’s premier youth football tournament began 26 years ago, not all age groups were offered to girls and Nigel Burgess and Taijaun Talbot, Kappa Classic co-chairmen, have their hands full to ensure that the expanded tournament runs smoothly.

With more than 1,800 players expected to take to the fields at the National Sports Centre from Thursday to Sunday, it promises to be a hectic time for those in charge.

“It’s our first year of a full complement of under-7 through to under-15 games with various teams in each age group,” Burgess told The Royal Gazette.

“Last year, while offered, there weren't enough under-15 girls teams, but this year it’s a full complement.

“We have not always offered girls groups. When we started including girls, it was just younger ages and then more age groups were added after.”

Burgess, who plays in goal for Hamilton Parish, shared the logistics involved in organising the biggest youth football tournament on the island.

“Running Kappa Classic is a huge task,” he said. “This is our 25th edition, and we meet new challenges each year.

“But we do prepare ourselves for what is our signature event, so that we are geared up for challenges that we meet in putting up an event of this magnitude.

“It’s usually 11½ months of preparation going into the next tournament. After a short break, we start a couple of weeks after the previous tournament. We usually carry out a post-mortem of the previous event, then we try to improve on it.

“What we've had the last couple of years is overseas teams showing an interest in being part of the tournament. It didn't materialise this year but we still have strong interest, and they will likely participate next year.

“We've had international teams out of the United States in the past. For next year, we have a huge interest from UK schools, teams from Trinidad and clubs from Washington DC who will be bringing players between the ages of 11 and 13.”

The growth of the tournament has resulted in the increase in sponsorship, with the sponsors divided into different categories.

“We have platinum, gold, silver and bronze sponsors,” Burgess said.

“This is the first time having this level of support from our community partners. BAC Group is our platinum sponsor and they upgraded from bronze last year.

“We would also like to thank Belco, they provided support to us as our gold sponsors. Many thanks to the Department of Sport and Recreation, they've been tremendous in their support, together with Axa XL as our silver sponsors.

“Allied World, Chubb, Barritts, Butterfield & Vallis, Clarien, Everen, Harneys, Island Construction Services, Martello Re, Northshore Medical & Aesthetics Centre, and Dr Brown's laboratories are our bronze sponsors.

“We also have the Bermuda Sport Anti-Doping Authority and Fidelity International Ltd as our tournament patrons.”

“We can’t do this event without the community partners. We are really appreciative of their support for the event, and their dedication to developing football on the island.”

Day 1 photo gallery