The Caribbean Cup soccer tournament gets into high gear this weekend with defending champions and current Eastern Zone leaders Jamaica taking on Grenada, the No. 2 team in the zone on Sunday, August 8 at 6 p.m. With just two weekends left in the preliminary round of the competition, no clear favorites have yet to emerge in what has become a hotly contested battle of the soccer fittest. “It’s really a tight race among the top three teams in both zones,” says Curtis Chance, one of the tournament’s organizers. “Anyone of these teams can make it to the finals.” There are five teams in each zone: The Eastern Zone has Jamaica, Grenada, Haiti, Trinidad & Tobago and Antigua & Barbuda. The Western Zone consists of Guyana, St. Vincent, Barbados, St. Kitts/Nevis and St. Lucia. Now in its 13th season, and in its second year at the Jefferson High School Field on Flatlands and Shepherd Avenues in Brooklyn, the Caribbean Cup continues to be favorite event for Tri-State sports fans in general and soccer lovers in particular. “It’s a perfect family outing,” says Chance. “Our new venue at the Jefferson High field is ideal for soccer.” In addition to the open competition, there is also an Over-40 tournament with teams from Grenada, Guyana, St. Lucia, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Nigeria vying for the top spot. This Sunday, the action begins at 1 p.m. with the Over-40 team from Guyana tackling their rivals from Trinidad. At 2:30 p.m. the Central Brooklyn Soccer League semifinal game between Imperial Kickers and Youth Uprising should prove to be an exciting affair. At 4:10 p.m. Caribbean Cup rivals St. Kitts/Nevis and St. Lucia will square off, followed by the feature match Grenada vs. Jamaica at 6 p.m. Admission is $7 through August 15 and kids under 12 are free. For information and tickets call 718-859-7300. SOURCE: CARIBBEAN CUP SOCCER 2004