Dennis ‘Chow’ Hunte (right) presents coordinator of the BV leg of the nationwide Inter-Block tournament with a quantity of footballs for the competition.

The competition involves various teams or blocks from individual communities, spanning the length and breadth of Guyana, stiffly competing among themselves for football supremacy.

According to Parliamentary Secretary within the Ministry, Steve Ninvalle, there is usually a minimum quota of four teams per community that are allowed to participate in the tournament. He, however, pointed out that based on the success of last year’s introductory hosting of the event some communities have made a plea to enter as many as 16 teams for the event this year.

This year’s vast expansion of the competition will see a total of 25 communities being covered including such remote destinations such as Linden, Mahdia and even Paramakatoi in the interior. Other communities named are Buxton, Berbice, Victoria, Plaisance and Ann’s Grove.

Ninvalle stated that the competition’s lack of age restrictions complements the ministry’s Fit for Life programme making reference to a 50-year-old resident of Plaisance who was involved in last year’s event.

Though trophies and medals are presented by the ministry to outstanding teams for their efforts, Ninvalle said that business persons in the various areas provided support for last year’s competition in the form of monetary prizes which encouraged the teams to give their all and that made for better competitive play.

He added that such initiatives are welcome from those in the business community willing to make a difference.

“People in BV look forward to this because it is not just a football match to them but it is more of a social event for them to come out and interact,” said Joseph ‘Bill’ Wilson who is the coordinator of the Beterverwagting leg of the event. He said that he anticipates a great turnout and fierce competition this year.

The teams that will be competing in the Beterverwagting leg this year are Block A (Housing Scheme, Quamina Road, Republic Drive, Market Street); Block B (Triumph, Market St, Railway Emabankment, Republic Drive); Block C (Ujaama Housing Scheme, Market St, Canterbury Walk) and Block D (Market St Sideline Dam and Oronoque Street).