(BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, May 22, 2012) – Caribbean football fans will have an added reason to cheer during the 2nd British Airways Football Legends Invitational Tournament scheduled for May 26-27, 2012 at Kensington Oval in Barbados.

 

Some of the greatest names from across the region will take to the field in this exciting event, all of whom have played at the highest levels for various clubs across the UK and have represented their countries on the international stage. This includes the likes of Trinidadian playmaker Russell Latapy who was a part of the Trinidad and Tobago national side known as the Strike Squad. Arguably the most talented side in the region at the time, needing only one point in its last game to qualify for the finals in Italy, they were defeated 0–1 at home by the United States.

 

The Kensington Oval will also be graced with the presence of some of the veterans of the Jamaican side “The Reggae boys” which played in the 1998 World Cup. The team will include Fitzroy Simpson, Deon Burton, Marcus Gayle and Paul Hall.  Also joining the team will be Barbados’ very own Gregory ‘Lalu’ Goodridge, 41, who gained over 100 international caps.  Gregory was the first home-grown footballer to play in the English first division, representing Queen’s Park Rangers in 1995 and Bristol City in 1996 after moving from Torquay United. He will certainly be a favourite amongst the local crowd.

 

The Caribbean All-Stars side will join six of Britain’s most revered teams – Arsenal, Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea, Manchester United, Newcastle and Tottenham Spurs -  as well as a PFA All-Stars - for them all to do  battle in this six-a-side tournament.  International heroes such as Gianfranco Zola, Alan Shearer, Dennis Wise, Roberto di Matteo, Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke and Gaizka Mendieta will also take the field.

The tournament will once again attract an enormous crowd of both British football fans visiting the country and local Barbadians, who are just as avid in their support of the game.   “The addition of a Caribbean All-Star squad should make the event even more appealing to the local and wider Caribbean audiences,” says Linda Christian Clarke, Senior Business Development Manager – Caribbean and Latin America of the Barbados Tourism Authority.

 

Tickets for the tournament are BDS$30 a day or BDS$50 for both days.  Box offices are Kensington Oval, CS Pharmacy, Texaco Wildey, Sport & Games, ITickets Barbados, Super Centre (Sunset Crest).

 

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Contact:

Tricia Williams

Corporate Communications Specialist

 

Direct: 467 3666

Mobile: 230 8784

Email: triciaw@visitbarbados.org