The Under-15 Mermaid Beach Football Tournament 2026, organised by Mermaid Eco Tourism Ltd, will kick off at Pechar Dwip in Cox’s Bazar on Sunday, bringing football excitement to the sandy beach.
The opening match is scheduled to begin at 3:00 pm on November 15, with six teams competing. The participating teams are Duronto Dheu, Chander Nouka, Lal Kakra, Sabuj Shaibal, Sagarlata and Prabal Kuri.
The tournament aims to encourage children and young people to take part in sports, identify emerging football talent and raise awareness about environmental protection.
Ahead of the tournament, organisers and volunteers conducted a beach clean-up programme on Saturday, joined by local youths. The initiative was aimed at keeping the beach clean and raising awareness about protecting the environment in the tourist area.
The organisers said boys aged under 15 would be eligible to participate. Teams could register through a designated arrangement at Doria Cafe in Pechar Dwip, where players’ names were also recorded. The registration deadline was November 12.
The champions will receive Tk 10,000, while the runners-up will get Tk 5,000. The tournament’s highest scorer and best goalkeeper will each receive Tk 1,000. The total cash prize amounts to Tk 20,000, while trophies and medals will also be awarded separately to the winners.
An organiser said, ‘Our main goal is to encourage local children and adolescents to take an interest in sports and create opportunities for them to develop their hidden talents. Through football, we want to engage the younger generation in positive activities and identify promising players. We hope this initiative by Mermaid will contribute to the development of football at the local level.’
He added that environmental protection was also a priority alongside sports. The beach clean-up programme was organised before the tournament to promote this objective.
‘We expect young people to play a responsible role not only in sports but also in keeping their environment and tourist areas clean. We plan to continue organising such initiatives in the future,’ he said.
The organisers hope the tournament will increase interest in football among children and adolescents in Pechar Dwip while promoting beach-based sports and environmental awareness.
Cox’s Bazar Life Report
