Sixth Milo School Football tournament launched
From left: Petra executive Mark Alleyne, Ministry of Education’s Nicholas Fraser and GFF Technical Director Ian Greenwood watch Petra co-Director Troy Mendonca collect the winning trophy from Milo Brand Manager Christel Van Sluytman. Executive Officer Jonathan Beepat and other executives look on. (Delano Williams photo)
From left: Petra executive Mark Alleyne, Ministry of Education’s Nicholas Fraser and GFF Technical Director Ian Greenwood watch Petra co-Director Troy Mendonca collect the winning trophy from Milo Brand Manager Christel Van Sluytman. Executive Officer Jonathan Beepat and other executives look on. (Delano Williams photo)

… Technical support for coaches being offered

EIGHTEEN schools in Georgetown will join six out-of-town teams in this year’s Milo School Football tournament which is set to begin next weekend.

Two teams from the East Coast of Demerara along with one each from Linden, West Bank Demerara, East Bank Demerara and Berbice will make up the out-of-town sides.
This was revealed yesterday by co-Director of the Petra Organisation, Troy Mendonca, at the launch of the tournament at the Beepats Sophia office.
Set for a January 27 start, the tournament is expected to run via a round-robin format with six groups of four in the first stage.

Following that, the top two teams from each group, along with the best four third-place finishers, will move on to the round-of-sixteen stage.
According to Mendonca, the programme has grown from strength to strength.
“Six years ago, we launched this programme and our aim then was to revitalise the sport, especially at the school level and I think over the years, it has served its purpose and has taken its place in the setup of football in Guyana.”

He also made reference to several youngsters who have been products of the programme and who have gained places in the various national teams.
Meanwhile, head of the Physical Education Department within the Ministry of Education, Nicholas Fraser, contended that the body has been adhering to the advice of his office.
He continued, “It’s very heartening to see that the tournament is expanding to out-of-town schools and there are many talented youths out there who sometimes don’t get the opportunity to showcase their talents and develop themselves.”

TECHNICAL SUPPORT AVAILABLE
Technical Director of the Guyana Football Federation Ian Greenwood contended that the tournament continues to be one used for spotting potential and youth team prospects.
In this regard, the Federation is encouraging teachers and coaches to take advantage of the technical support being offered by his office ahead of the tournament.
“The GFF technical department is open for anybody who wants to come and discuss things. We have technical officers in the various regions who can come down and help with your schools and prepare things.”

This, he noted, can be accessed through the Petra Organisation, the coordinators of the Milo tournament.
Executive officer of Beepats, Jonathan Beepat, contended that for the period his company has been in existence, the entity has prided itself in assisting sport as its corporate social responsibility.

“Being a family-owned business from my grandfather’s days and even my father’s days, we’ve always sponsored sports.” Beepat said the company has assisted many big names in the sport world.

$1.1M is up for grabs with the tournament winners getting to choose for their school a developmental project worth $500 000.
Second-place will have a $300 000 budget, third-place $200 000 and fourth-place $100 000.
The teams will be released shortly.

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