Nearly 200 apprentices from one of Scotland’s largest construction companies battled it out yesterday for the top prize in a fiercely competitive football tournament.

Two and a half months after it kicked off, 16 teams from City Building – Glasgow City Council’s arms-length construction company – took to the field for the culmination of the Commonwealth Cup. The aim of the Cup is to promote the health and wellbeing of City Building apprentices.

South Africa were crowned the winners after they defeated Singapore on penalties following a 2-2 draw in the final at the Toryglen Regional Football Centre which sits in the shadow of Hampden Park, Scotland’s national football stadium.

The Legacy League began in March with 22 teams competing in two divisions. Then for the Commonwealth Cup group games, the teams were placed in five smaller leagues from which the top 16 teams emerged for yesterday’s winner-takes-all knockout tournament.

Recognised as a Legacy project for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, the Legacy League saw each team of 10 apprentices named after a country which will compete in the showcase event in three years time.

The Commonwealth Cup was presented to South Africa team captain Scott Kennedy by Councillor Gordon Matheson, Leader of Glasgow City Council.

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Councillor Matheson said: “This has been a fantastic festival of football from start to finish and it a great way to reward these young apprentices for the work they have done for communities in Glasgow.

“They have shown real enthusiasm, not to mention ability, throughout and I have no doubt that getting the chance to put one over their workmates was a major factor! It was a great honour to present the Commonwealth Cup to the winners, who fully deserved their victory.

“Our vision is to achieve a healthier, more vibrant city with our citizens enjoying and realising the benefits of sport and the wider, longer term economic, social, cultural and environmental benefits that the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games will help to deliver.”

The tournament and competition are part of City Building’s Active Citizenship Apprenticeship Initiative, which aims to give City Building’s 500 directly-employed apprentices the skills, confidence and self-belief to make a positive contribution to their local communities.

A key component of the initiative is apprentices undertaking community-led volunteer work and so far they have worked on nine community projects, ranging from the installation of a Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries (RSBi) kitchen at the Royal British Legion Club in Glasgow’s Knightswood to painting and plumbing work at Oatlands Community Centre on Glasgow’s South Side.

City Building managing director Willie Docherty said: “The tournament was a great way to link our national game, and the sporting bonanza which is to come in 2014, to the Active Citizenship Apprenticeship Initiative, which is part of our contribution to developing and promoting sustainable communities in Glasgow.

“The apprentices have spent a lot of time and effort volunteering on a range of projects in Glasgow in the last year and have done a fantastic job, so I would like to thank them all for their efforts.”

City Building is the largest apprentice training provider in Scotland. Its award-winning Queenslie Training Centre and Construction Skills Academy are the most successful apprentice-training centres in Scotland with a 98 per cent completion rate, compared to the industry average of 62 per cent.

City Building plays an active role in encouraging apprentices to make healthy lifestyle choices, which benefit them both at work and at home. The company has introduced a number of taster sessions for its apprentices to encourage them to try new sports including skiing, tennis, golf and basketball.

(GK/KMcA)