THE Edward Beharry Group of Companies has renewed its commitment to youth in Guyana through sports by once again aiding in the sponsorship of this year’s National Schools’ Basketball Festival (NSBF). Beharry had sponsored the tournament in past years but this year they have committed to do so under the Champion brand and contribute in a major way to the champions and outstanding performers in the tournament.
Apart from their usual sponsorship, Beharry will be donating several new incentives/awards to the tournament to enhance the quality of play in the country’s premier school tournament.
They will be donating the Sportsmanship award for both team and player who display those qualities, the Senior Classman Award for the top athlete in their last year of eligibility in the tournament, the Best Coach award, and the Student-Athlete award for the player who achieved excellence on the court and in the classroom.
Merchandising and Promotions officer, Hashin Alli, said that his establishment was pleased to once again fulfil its civil role in society by helping to facilitate the tournament, adding that the entity “always saw this as a very good opportunity, in order to support youths and encourage them to fulfil their dreams through sport. This is just one of our many attributes that we continue to make available to the Guyanese populace”.
The 2011 NSBF, coordinated by Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG), is the biggest edition of the tournament so far in its six-year existence.
The tournament has been extended to take on a nationwide format with the regional conference playoffs that are currently being played in six different conference zone areas around the country.
Beharry will also be significantly contributing to providing meals for the out-of-town teams, according to YBG president Chris Bowman.
“Beharry’s sponsorship is going to help significantly for the out-of-town teams. As you may know, this year our undertaking of so many teams will be very large and it’s very significant that Beharry can help in that area,” Bowman said.  
Close to ten out-of-town teams will be participating in the championship round of the tournament which begins next month.