THE fourth annual COURTS Pee Wee Under-11 Schools football tournament was launched yesterday in the Conference Room of the National Library and will kick off on Saturday, October 3 at the Banks DIH ground, Thirst Park.Twenty-four primary school teams from Georgetown, including the defending champions Stella Maris, will collide in the most anticipated grassroots level tournament that has been instrumental in the development of youths since its commencement.
The other competing schools are last year’s runners-up St Pius, Marian Academy, New Comenius, West Ruimveldt, St Margaret’s, St Agnes, Tucville, South Ruimveldt, North Georgetown, Ketley, St Gabriel’s, F.E. Pollard, Enterprise, Sophia, Winfer Gardens, Smith Memorial, East La Penitence, St Angela’s, St Ambrose, St Stephen’s, J.E. Burnham, School of the Nations and Rama Krishna.
Yesterday, remarks were delivered in a simple ceremony by Director of Sport Christopher Jones, COURTS’ Director of Marketing Pernell Cummings, Banks DIH Malta Brand Manager Clayton McKenzie, Ministry of Education’s Nicholas Fraser and Director of Petra Troy Mendonca.
Also present was Managing Director of COURTS Clyde de Haas who presented the cheque for in excess of $3M to the organising team, Petra.
The Director of Sport, in his remarks commended COURTS for its commitment to the development of sport in Guyana and disclosed that such efforts will not go unrewarded by the government.
Jones also applauded the efforts of Petra, along with the other sponsors who have thrown their support behind this cause as well as the parents and teachers who are with the teams every step of the way.
He then urged the youths to make the best of the opportunity which is a stepping stone and reminded them that they are the future of Guyana’s football.
McKenzie was introduced first by the chairperson Roberta Ferguson of COURTS Guyana Inc., and he mentioned that his company is quite pleased to be involved with sport and more so the development of youths.
Banks DIH, like COURTS, has seen the extent of what this tournament has done for junior football and came onboard without a second thought.
Cummings and Fraser endorsed McKenzie’s remarks and urged people to come out and witness good competition and camaraderie among these teams.
COURTS also donated two balls to each school in the tournament to aid in their preparation for the event.