Nexora FC outperformed 11 competing squads to claim the top prize at Empire Sports Club’s six-a-side football tournament, held as a centerpiece of the club’s 112th anniversary celebrations this week. The tight final match at Bank Hall ended in a regulation goalless draw, forcing a decisive penalty shootout where Nexora FC held firm to secure a 1-0 win over runners-up Easy on Tuesday. The official prize presentation for the top two finishers took place two days later in a short ceremony hosted at Massy Distribution.
This year’s competition marked a break from the club’s traditional anniversary football programming, which usually sees a veteran squad take on younger team members. According to Patrina Brathwaite, Assistant Secretary of Empire Sports Club, the new six-a-side format was designed to bring fresh energy to the anniversary celebrations. “We wanted to do something different for our football celebration this year, so we developed this open 12-team tournament,” Brathwaite explained. Local brand Rude Boy stepped in as a sponsor to cover the winner’s prize purse, and Brathwaite noted that organizers already plan to host a follow-up tournament in the coming months.
A lifelong club member who first joined when she was just nine years old, Brathwaite shared her enthusiasm for the historic Barbadian sports institution, which has fostered generations of elite athletes. “I’ve played both hockey and football here my whole life, and I truly believe it’s one of the finest clubs across Barbados,” she said. “It’s known as the home of champions – we’ve had dozens of talented cricketers develop here, many of whom went on to represent the West Indies at the international level.” Brathwaite also used the post-tournament occasion to issue an open invitation to local sports lovers, encouraging more community members to sign up as club members and take part in future programming.
Stephen Bennett, Brand Manager for Rude Boy, echoed that commitment to local community sports, saying the brand was thrilled to partner with Empire Sports Club on the anniversary tournament. “When opportunities arise to support grassroots football and engage with local communities, Rude Boy always jumps at the chance,” Bennett stated. He also publicly recognized Katrina Pixie Brathwaite for her ongoing contributions to Barbadian community sports, calling her a consistent driving force behind local athletic initiatives. “These kinds of community-focused projects are exactly what Rude Boy wants to support,” Bennett added. “We’re committed to lifting up positive local activities that bring people together through sport, and we look forward to more partnerships like this going forward.”