A new youth football tournament will take place at the National Sports Centre in September.

The inaugural Athene Youth Kickstart Cup, a preseason 7 v 7 football tournament will take place from September 26 to 28, with the competition open to boys and girls teams in the under-7, under-9 and under-11 age groups.

The tournament is designed to help young athletes sharpen their skills, have fun and build team spirit ahead of the new season. There is no entry fee, and space is limited. Interested teams are encouraged to register early by e-mailing youthkickstartcup@gmail.com.

Each age group will have designated time slots to allow for back-to-back games, with players able to benefit from a pre-match skills workshop and free giveaways throughout the weekend.

“At Athene, community involvement is deeply rooted in who we are,” said Natasha Scotland Courcy, chief executive officer and general counsel of Athene Life Re.

“We are excited to announce the inaugural Athene Youth Kickstart Cup this year. Supporting Bermuda’s youth is something we take great pride in, and we hope every player walks away with more than just stronger football skills. We want them to leave with a great tournament experience and learning for further development of their craft.”

In addition to the matches, the event will have a festive atmosphere featuring food vendors, photo booths and a Kids Zone full of activities to keep the entire family entertained. International and local special guests will be in attendance as well.

The event is organised by Footy Promotions, a non-profit organisation dedicated to player development through futsal, football and related initiatives. Footy Promotions delivers development programmes through training sessions, school partnerships, camps, and events.