THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) will kick off its nationwide U-20 tournament – the KFC Independence Cup – on April 27 (to May 20) with the regional playoffs, while the National playoffs will run from May 31 to June 9.

Up for grabs – $500 000 for the winning team, while second and third will pocket $300 000 and $200 000 respectively.

The Edward B. Beharry Group (under their KFC brand) is the titled sponsors for the tournament that will be played on a ‘win or go home’ format, featuring over 100 clubs, drawn from the GFF’s Regional Member Associations (RMA) for players born on or after January 1, 1999.

Charissa Rampersaud, KFC Guyana Training Manager, reasoned that her entity’s role is not only to assist the country’s youth in realising their dream and reaching their optional, but also to be able to provide a platform that will see them grow in the sport.

Rampersaud noted that KFC is delighted to be part of the footballing experience and that they’re looking forward to seeing the players in action.

Ian Greenwood, the GFF’s Technical Director, speaking at the tournament’s launch yesterday at KFC’s Vlissengen Road location, spoke profoundly of the role the tournament plays in the development chart of the federation, the opportunities it will present the nation’s best players, especially since Guyana will compete at the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying tournament, and the Independence Cup will be used to scout players.

Meanwhile, GFF president Wayne Forde said the goal of the federation is to have leagues at the U-13, U-15, U-17, U-20 and the senior level, adding that “our (GFF) hope at the end of this format, the KFC group along with other non-competing partners will see the outcome of the tournament and will be able to sit and partner to help us to get to a point where we can run a full-fledged league with a similar play-off at the end.”

Quizzed about how much scouting can be done in a knockout tournament, Forde noted that “the knock-out tournament is reduced as compared to a league; if we are able to do 25% scouting, it is 25% scouting that we were not able to do one week ago.”

Meanwhile, he explained it is the company’s effort to help young persons to achieve their goals. It further aligns with KFC’s goal to assist young people in being well-rounded and productive members of society