FIFA’S Regional Development Officer, Howard McIntosh, concluded a successful three-day visit to Guyana after being involved in multiple meetings with key stakeholders across Guyana, including Lethem and Georgetown.According to a Guyana Football Federation (GFF) release, the visit which began on Sunday last, saw McIntosh witness the final of the STAG Elite League at the National Track and Field Facility, Leonora.
He also visited Lethem, Region 9, where he met several stakeholders and opened the GFF-NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 Tournament. He was accompanied by GFF president Wayne Forde.
In brief remarks at the opening of the Rupununi Football Association’s (RFA) leg of the GFF-NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 Tournament on Monday, McIntosh said, “The Rupununi is a gold mine of talent that must be harnessed with urgency.”
He expressed his appreciation to the RFA for the grand welcome extended, which included being serenaded by groups of participants displaying multiple welcome signs then garlanded by traditional ornament.
Among the key stakeholders met during the one-day visit to Lethem were personnel from the Guyana Bank For Trade and Industry (GBTI) and Republic Bank; teachers and students from the St Ignatius Secondary School and the Executive of the Rupununi Football Association (RFA).
During these meetings, development initiatives and integration strategies for hinterland teams into the national programme were discussed as well as general football development in the region.
On Tuesday, McIntosh and Forde met with representatives from the Ministry of Education and the Department of Sport to discuss the implementation of a National schools football programme and access to land for building football pitches across Guyana.
Present at that meeting were the Ministry of Education’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Olato Sam and the Director of Sport, Christopher Jones. Additionally, the team held a meeting with the CEO and a representative of NAMILCO to discuss the development structure of the National U-17 tournament.
McIntosh departed Guyana on Wednesday.