Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s Pocket Rocket Foundation has joined forces with FYI’s Youth Football League to introduce the new Champions Cup to be contested by the best Prep and Primary schools across the island.

The partnership will see the foundation offering $100,000 a year scholarship to the MVP of the tournament throughout the recipient’s high school tenure which could rise to $700,000.

The Champions Cup, which will be held on June 21, was launched on Thursday, April 10 at Funland, Hope Gardens.

Paula Pinnock, Managing Director of FYI Consultancy Group and the Youth Football League, said as the 2025 season kicks into high gear, the Youth Football League (YFL) continues to answer the growing need for structure, opportunity and balance in youth football in Jamaica.

 “With a strong emphasis on blending sports and education, the YFL remains committed to using football as a transformative tool for youth development—providing kids with the chance to compete, learn and thrive both on and off the field,” said Pinnock. “We are thrilled to announce a brand-new partnership with the Pocket Rocket Foundation, a move that promises to elevate the reach and impact of the YFL’s mission to empower young athletes.  This collaboration debuts with the inaugural Champions Cup, a high-level, invitation-only tournament featuring the top four primary schools and top four prep schools across Jamaica, based on their finish in their respective 2024/2025 competitions.”

“This partnership with the Pocket Rocket Foundation is a major milestone for us. It’s the perfect alignment of two organizations committed to youth excellence—both on the field and in the classroom. The Champions Cup will no doubt be one of the most exciting youth tournaments Jamaica has seen and we’re honoured to have the Foundation on board as we continue building a platform that supports and celebrates our young talent,” she added.

Meanwhile, Fraser-Pryce was not at the launch but sent her comments.

“We are proud to support this initiative by the Youth Football League. Our foundation has always been committed to developing well-rounded student-athletes, and this partnership gives us another opportunity to invest in the future of young talent,” said Fraser-Pryce in a pre-launch comment.

The Champions Cup will be held on June 21st, featuring a one-day showdown in a three-round format: quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals. Matches will be played in a 9v9 format with a shortened 45-minute match duration, designed to keep the competition intense and action-packed.

The Champions Cup also marks a continuation of the long-standing commitment by FYI Consultancy Group organizers of the Youth Football League to encourage more football to be played at the primary and preparatory levels across Jamaica. FYI has proudly collaborated with major sporting bodies like JISA and the JFF since 2013 to help shape and grow football in the prep school space.

Eight teams selected to participate in the 2025 staging of the Champions Cup were publicly named, setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling debut of this elite youth football tournament.

The event also featured a live quarterfinal draw, adding excitement and anticipation as teams learned their opening matchups. Representing the top four primary schools are Corinaldi Avenue Primary, McAuley Primary, Balmagie Primary and Spanish Town Primary. The top four prep schools securing their spots are Hillel Academy, Sts Peter and Paul Prep, Mona Prep, and Lannaman’s Prep.

 These eight standout teams earned their place based on their performance in their respective competitions and are now set to battle for the coveted Champions Cup title.

Following the draw, the match-ups are St Peter and Paul Prep taking on Corinaldi Primary; Mona Prep versus McAuley Primary; Hillel Academy tackle Spanish Town Primary; and Lannaman’s Prep play Balmagie Primary.

The Youth Football League is one of the leading football platforms in the country for young players both male and female through the Junior Cup Championship, The NEXT Cup Invitational and the Girlz Can Play Too tournament.