THE BETERVERWAGTING Community Centre ground stands to benefit from the 20th anniversary celebration of Ansa McAl Trading Limited, who yesterday launched the Stag Beer Senior football league in partnership with the East Demerara Football Association. “As we celebrate another milestone in our operation in Guyana, the Beterverwagting Community Centre will get an upgrade to its existing facility as Ansa McAl Trading Limited will be celebrating its 20th Anniversary in operation here in Guyana,” said Ansa McAl’s Public Relations Office Darshanie Yusuf.
According to Yusuf, Ansa McAl Trading Limited will be fully adopting the Beterverwagting Community Centre ground, outfitting it with dressing room, bleachers, toilet and lighting facilities, with this project commencing in a few weeks time.
The league is historic since it will be the first time it is being sponsored under the Stag Beer Brand, as it was in the past sponsored under the Mackeson brand.
Present at the launching were acting president of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Franklyn Wilson, EDFA president and vice-president Rudolph Calendar and Eton Moses, Stag Beer brands manager John Maikoo, media and other members of affiliated clubs of the EDFA.
Moses congratulated the sponsors for extending their partnership towards football for another year, as it will aid in the further development of the sport on the East Coast.  He congratulated the company on its 20th anniversary.
He noted that the league will see 28 matches in the first two rounds, while a youth football development league will be played parallel to the senior league which is set to commence next Saturday at the Beterverwagting Community Centre ground.  Matches will also be played at the Buxton Community Centre ground.
Wilson, in his presentation, echoed similar sentiments on congratulating the sponsors for the support to sports in Guyana and more so football, where the association of West Demerara, the Golden Jaguars and now the EDFA are the beneficiaries. He also wished them all the best in their continued operation and support to football and sports.
He made mentions of Victoria Kings, known to the football public as the Knockout Kings and who have fallen from grace and today have now been demoted from the super league.
Urging the affiliated clubs to be disciplined, punctual and to train hard and play fair as they all vie for the top places in the 2012 league, Wilson said that all the clubs were from villages and the inter-village rivalry must return but be clean and competitive to the sport as he sees development for the association.
Former general secretary Sheron Abrams who was also in attendance received kudos for her sterling contribution of the EDFA.
In next Saturday’s action which precedes the opening ceremony of the 2012 season Ann’s Grove will meet Golden Grove in the first match at 14:00hrs, followed by Victoria Kings and Mahaica Determinators clashing in the feature at 16:00hrs.