Raymond Anderson - File

Jamaica Football Federation, Vice-President, Raymond Anderson, believes the LIME Street Football Challenge is helping to create greater levels of excitement about the sport locally. This excitement, he says, could help in bringing previously hidden talent to the fore.

He also believes the competition in years to come could help Jamaica develop their own football culture.

When the competition was launched in March, recently retired national defender Ricardo 'Bibi' Gardener had remarked that the scale of the competition could help unearth previously hidden local talent.

Anderson echoed his sentiments during the quarter-final draw of the competition held at the Cuddyz Sports Bar in New Kingston on Wednesday, adding that it has also created greater levels of excitement about the sport.

"It has built a vibe in the parishes that has helped football because the more people speak about and play football the better it is for the federation, and of course, the parish associations," he said.

"It has also, from a community level, helped us. Currently someone is introducing a youngster to me, 20 years old, who has scored the most goals. So they want to have him playing in some other formal competitions. So it means a lot to us."

Two players have scored nine goals each in the competition. Jermaine Holmes of Manchester parish champions Los Perfectos Masters and Nicolas Tucker of Kingston parish champions Street People.

According to Anderson, 'scrimmage' football is a very important element in helping develop the country's football culture.

"Scrimmage has its place in the development of football, the one-touch and 'skillness', so this can really help us as a football playing nation to have football being played on the street, any little area that has a clear and level surface. This can help us develop more skilled players, more one-touch football will be played and that just might be the culture starting there."

Prior to the start of the quarter-final round this weekend in Mineral Heights, Clarendon, teams have scored 865 goals. Los Perfectos Masters is the team to have scored the most goals - 21.