… Tournament to kick off on June 12

ONE hundred and fifty schools, drawn from the ten administrative regions of Guyana, will once again vie for the country’s ‘Holy Grail’ of schools football when the Digicel Football Championship kicks off on June 12 countrywide. The tournament will conclude with the final on July 30 at the Leonora Track and Field Facility.
At a simple but significant launch, held at the West Demerara Secondary School yesterday, Digicel Head of Marketing Jacqueline James said that the continuity of the tournament, which is now in its seventh year, is testimony to the telecommunication provider’s commitment not only to the development of football in Guyana, but also to the country’s future stars ensuring that they are given a platform to showcase their God-given talent.
One million dollars will go the winning school for a project of their choice, while second through fourth will pocket $700 000, $400 000 and $350 000 respectively.
However, as explained by Digicel’s Head of Customer Care, Sherwin Osborne, the tournament, which will see Georgetown being divided into north and south, will see the winners of each zone, win $100 000 towards a school project.
“We want the public to also be engaged and more involved. We want them to win prizes. We want them to come out and support our youths. We want to feature the public so we’ll have a ‘Digicel Favourite Fan’ in the community,” James said.
She expressed her company’s plans to ensure that this year the fans will be shown appreciation for their support to the tournament over the past seven years.
James also thanked other stakeholders; the Ministry of Education, National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) for their continued and unwavering support which contributed to the success of the country’s largest schools football tournament.
Meanwhile, Dr Wazir Mohamed, Special Technical Adviser to the Minister of Education Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, stated that the Ministry is pleased to be associated with Digicel as they help Guyana’s schools and Guyana’s youths realise their full potential.
“Participation in football and other school athletic and sporting activities is very important to the all-round development of our young people. Athletics, the broad umbrella under which football falls, provides an important means, avenue and resource that helps students become more rounded; and hence helps them to more meaningfully engaged with their education,” Dr Mohamed said.
Director of Sport Christopher Jones also expressed his delight at seeing the continuity of the championships, calling it one of the most, if not ‘the’ most, anticipated event on the schools calendar.
He added that the NSC is willing and ready to lend Digicel any assistance where necessary, in an effort for a positive outcome of the 2017 championship.
Thandi McAllister, vice-president of the GFF, pointed out the Digicel Schools Football tournament has become a remarkable feature on the country’s football calendar, and as such, the game’s local governing body is more than pleased to be associated with Digicel to pull off the championship.
Chase’s Academic Foundation are the defending champions for the tournament, while the Christianburg Wismar Secondary School, popularly known as Multi are the most decorated team.
The Linden-based team have played in every final since the inception of the tournament, winning four consecutive titles, only losing in the inaugural year to the Georgetown Technical Institute and in last year’s final.