… Ansa McAl pulls plug as ‘title sponsor’

THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) will kick off the third season of their ‘Elite League’, featuring ten of the country’s teams, with a double-header on Sunday, November 19 at the Leonora Track and Field Facility.

According a release from the GFF, the third installation of the country’s premier football league, will see greater emphasis on player-oriented initiatives, will start with grand opening ceremony from 15:00hrs.
Following that spectators will see the ‘Big Four’ winners – Fruta Conquerors face newcomers New Amsterdam from 17:30hrs, and defending champions Guyana Defence Force (GDF) tackle first-timers Western Tigers FC at 20:00hrs.

The new season will see six of the top clubs added to the pool of elite teams following their receipt of their respective CONCACAF Club licences in September, including Western Tigers FC, Cougars FC, New Amsterdam United FC, Ann’s Grove FC, Den Amstel FC and Milerock FC.
Ian Alves, Competitions Director of the GFF said the Federation is looking forward to a competitive season with the additional clubs and incentives, and that the players also have a responsibility to ensure this is realised.

“In return, players have been asked to bring their best game on each match day in order to make the league attractive to the fans. We therefore urge club supporters and football fans in general to come out and experience Guyana’s highest level of football as we continue to grow and develop the league towards self-sustenance in the near future,” Alves said.
This year, the winners will receive $5M, second-place $2M, third and fourth will pocket $1M and $500 000 respectively.

Meanwhile, with regard to sponsorship, only Church’s Chicken was named. The previous two seasons were called the ‘STAG’ Elite League, but the GFF had downplayed the rumoured fallout between the federation and Ansa McAl, with president Wayne Forde telling reporters recently that they’re awaiting a confirmation from the Trinidadian company.
However, Communications and Public Relations Officer, Debra Francis, when asked about Ansa McAl and STAG Beer’s involvement in this year’s league after plugging millions over the past two years, stated, “The question will be best responded to by Ansa McAl but they have not recommitted to the title sponsorship for the new season.”

Francis also said that “the sponsors for the league are still being finalised, to the best of my knowledge, and will be released in due course”.
Asked about the fixtures, the Communications and Public Relations Officer explained that it is still being finalised and will be disseminated upon completion.