Local football club hosts state tournament

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO. (KFVS) – Crowds came to Cape Girardeau over the weekend to cheer on youth football.

The inaugural Mississippi River Derby was held on the Southeast Missouri State campus over the weekend. 32 teams from Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee and other surrounding states participated in the U-8, 9 and 10 tournament.

Despite the rain from St. Helene, several volunteers worked to mark the pitches, ensuring the event ran smoothly in the challenging conditions.

The host, SEMO Elite FC, went to St. Petersburg for the cup and medal designs for the tournament. It reached out to regional businesses in St. Louis. And local referees have helped decide dozens of matches.

SEMO Elite FC President JP Sides and Vice President Nick Rapisardo spoke on Sunday about preparations for the tournament and hopes for its continuation.

“It took a few months. “There was a lot of planning,” Sides said. “I can’t say enough about what Nick Rapisardo means to the community here in terms of football and how much work he puts into this tournament. “The sacrifices he personally made from work to be able to put in the hours and make this event happen were extremely commendable.”

“We met with the Cape city a few months ago and wanted to bring the tournament here,” Rapisardo said. “We wanted this for bigger reasons, for our community and because we want to host bigger things in the future.”