Close to 500 communities from across the island will battle for one of the largest football prizes on offer, when the Institute of Sports (INSPORTS) All-Island Community Football Championship kicks off this afternoon at Cotton Tree Oval in Port Morant, St Thomas. Starting time is 2 p.m.

A whopping $500,000 is up for the taking, as well as the right to be called national community football champions of Jamaica. This inaugural showpiece will also offer $150,000 to the national runners-up, with $100,000 and $50,000 going to third and fourth place, respectively.

The competition has three stages, beginning with a knockout rally (process of elimination only if entries exceed limit) in each parish, to determine a maximum of 32 teams that will be placed in eight groups of four.

In this preliminary round of the parish phase, teams play each other twice with the top two from each group advancing to the Round of 16, with the qualifiers drawn in four groups of four. Only the top two will go through to the quarter-final KO round, until a parish champion is decided.

Parish winners automatically qualify for the national phase or Round of 16, which is completed by the winner from the metropolis of Portmore and the runner-up from St Andrew.

At the national phase teams are drawn in four groups of four, using a round-robin format, with the top two advancing to the knockout segment, starting with the quarter-finals, then semi-finals and finals to decide the national champion.

Minister of Sports Olivia Grange, members of Parliament James Robertson and Dr Fenton Ferguson, along with St Thomas Football Association president, Wayne Thompson, will be in attendance.

In recent action from the Bigga-sponsored Alberga Cup Prep School Football Competition, Zidan Thomas scored six times to lead Glowell to an impressive 9-1 beating of Logans. Thomas scored five of his six goals in the second half. Thainel Thomas, Duvian Clarke and Josh Shaw scored the other goals for Glowell.

In Zone Five's other games, Nicholas Collins netted twice as Belair beat St Catherine 4-1, Bright Beginning defeated St Jago 2-0 and Glenmuir edged Harrison 2-1.

In Zone Three, Aroa Hyde netted a hat-trick for St Andrew to beat Our Lady of the Angels 6-1, Trafalgar thrashed Meadowbrook 7-0, Ardenne outclassed Creative Kids 8-0 and Liberty stopped SOS 4-0.

Brad Foster also scored a hat-trick for Morris Knibb to beat Grace Christian 3-0 in Zone Two. Holy Childhood edged St Hugh's 2-1, while St Cecelia had a similar win over Hillel.

In Zone One, Quest beat Hopefield 9-0, Portmore Missionary stopped Porters 2-0, while Mona and Alvernia scored 1-0 wins over Emmanuel and Roe Gordon, respectively. Wolmer's and Alpha ended 0-0.

In Zone Four, Suthermere defeated Splendor 7-0, Stella Maris beat Mavisville 2-0, while Praise Tabernacle and Richard Park game ended 1-1.

Galina Primary defeated Iona Preparatory 5-1 in action from the Primary Schools Championship on Thursday at the James Bond Beach Complex in Oracabessa, St Mary. Bryan Cunningham netted a hat-trick, scoring in the 21st, 23rd and 26th minutes. Davian Bennett (35th) and goalkeeper Jazeel Armsby converted a penalty in the 45th minute for Galina's goals. The consolation goal for Iona was scored in the 22nd minute by Joel Duncan.

In the first of two games between Labyrinth and Donnington Primary, the former dominated the game for a 3-1 win. Sidane Richards, Tevaughn Jarrett and Roy Evelyn scored for the winners in the 11th, 42nd and 46th minutes, respectively. Donnington's goal was scored by Wyndell Edwards in the 18th minute.

Defending champions John Mills and Windward Road began their title defence on a winning note in the junior and senior leagues, respectively, as the 2009 Institute of Sports-sponsored Junior High schoolgirls netball competition got under way at the Leila Robinson Courts on Wednesday.

John Mills, coached by Ransford Spaulding, registered a convincing 21-3 win over Red Hills in the Junior League after leading 11-0 at half-time, while Windward Road, coached by Stafford Alexander, defeated Maverley 25-3 after taking a 12-1 lead at the interval.

Also winning handsomely in the Junior League were last year's beaten finalists Windward Road, who defeated Norman Gardens 22-4.

In other Senior League matches, last year's beaten finalists John Mills swept past Red Hills 29-3 after taking a 12-1 lead at half-time; Louise Bennett-Coverley were too strong for Cockburn Gardens and registered a convincing 26-8 win; former champions Dallas defeated Castleton Gardens 24-11; Mico Practising, also former champions, defeated Stony Hill 23-56, while Seaward outscored Rock Hall 19-8.

In the St James Goodwill Open netball league on Tuesday, Ace dispatched Juveniles B 18-10 at Overton. Jodian Francis netted 13 goals from 23 attempts and Shanice Rhodes got five from 10. The consolation goals for Juveniles B came from Roxanne Haynes (7) and Jahnoia Christie (3).

Dunbeholden, Spanish Town Police face off

Portmore's Dunbehol-den will face off with Spanish Town Police at the Dunbeholden playing field this afternoon, in the Captain's Bakery St Catherine Football Association Major League competition.

Dunbeholden went down 0-1 to DB Basovak in their first game, while Spanish Town Police beat Arlington United 2-0 in their first outing. In another game, Albion United tackle Cumberland at the Cumberland High School playing field. Cumberland have a win and a loss under their belt, while Albion won and lost one match apiece. Both games begin at 3 p.m.

In games Thursday, DB Basovak blanked Arlington United 2-0 to move to nine points, from three games; promoted Portsmouth won their first match - a 1-0 win over De la Vega United; while Black Lions surprised last year's beaten finalists Flamingo 2-1.

Leading Group A clubs Ken's Wildflower (14) and Reid's Pen (16) clash in the feature match in the eighth round of the Wray and Nephew White Overproof Rum Portmore Cricket League at Ken's Wildflower sports ground tomorrow.

Ken's only defeat of the season was inflicted by Reid's Pen recently and revenge must be clearly on the players' minds.

Ken's Wildflower are coming off an easy 10-wicket win over the Development Squad, while Reid's Pen had the week off. In another Group A game, the Development Squad will seek to continue their dominance over Belmont at Lime Tree Oval.

In group B, leaders Colours International (22) are expected to snatch another win at the expense of Cumberland (four), while Hamilton Gardens (six) should record their second victory of the season as they welcome Portmore Pines (four) on their home ground. All games begin at 11 a.m.