THE three-day Referees’ Course for schools taking part in the inaugural Scotiabank/Pepsi Schools Football Academy opened last Monday with 22 participants drawn from secondary schools in Georgetown, at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue. The participating schools are North Georgetown Secondary, St Joseph High, Tutorial High, Queen’s College, Marian Academy, Tucville Secondary, East Ruimveldt Secondary, Christ Church Secondary, Lodge Secondary, New Campbellville Secondary and St. George’s Secondary.
Leading referees’ instructors, Lawrence ‘Sparrow’ Griffith and Roy McArthur, are lecturing to the participants who will be exposed to both theoretical and practical sessions, on the laws of football.
Griffith said that he was very pleased with the turnout of students at the opening session and added that participants are very keen to learn.
He said the students were identified to attend the programme with a view to officiating in the forthcoming Schools football tournament to begin next month as part of the seven-month academy which was launched just over a month ago with a coaching course for teachers
He expressed gratitude to the main sponsors Scotiabank and Pepsi and the Ministry of Education for supporting the programme and noted that assistance was also received from US-based Guyana Sports Development Council, Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and Guyana Football Referees Council, along with alumni associations of some of the participating schools.