THE Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship for the Group D entrants is set to commence today. At a press briefing yesterday the respective heads of the Alpha United Football Club and the Guyana Defence Force Football Club disclosed some of the details as to their participation. President of the Alpha United FC Odinga Lumumba shed some light on the reason for the two Guyanese teams competing in the same category. According to Lumumba it was the remedy to the GDF team’s issues with acquiring visas for all its members to take part in a separate group competition which is to be held in Puerto Rico. 
He stated that an appeal was made to the CFU for the problem to be rectified. Lumumba also made a plea to the private sector to aid them in their participation in the regional tournament as, apart from visa issues, the cost of airfare is also an obstacle that has to be overcome.
He thanked President Bharrat Jagdeo and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony for their sizeable contribution towards their cause.
Lumumba went on to highlight the significance of the tournament saying that the top three teams that emerge from the competition qualify to play in the CONCACAF tournament where every team that participates in that tournament is allotted US$50 000.
Captain Eon Murray spoke on behalf of the Guyana Defence Force team, stating that the setback with the visas did not break the team’s spirit as they continued their preparations regardless.
He said that he was pleased that they will meet Alpha United in Group D after the appeal was made to the CFU for them to be relocated to a different group as it will see them having to play the best in Guyana.
The competition starts today with  GDF coming up against Walking Boys FC from Suriname at the GCC Ground, Bourda at 16:00 h.
On Sunday Alpha United will square off with Walking Boys at the same venue at 16:00 h and on Tuesday the two local teams will clash at the same venue and time.