THE Scotiabank/Pepsi Schools Football tournament phase was officially launched in New Amsterdam at the All Saints Ground last Saturday with the March Past of teams who saluted Heathcliff Peters, Sports Officer, Berbice Branch, Guyana Teachers Union (GTU).

Peters in his brief remarks welcomed all present and also thanked them for coming out in their numbers. He urged the participants to be good role models and ambassadors for their schools as they go about their daily chores.
He said playing football is a good activity and it keeps you healthy and fit and keeps you meaningfully occupied.
The Sports Officer took the opportunity to thank sponsors DDL and Scotiabank for their fortitude in the continuance of sponsoring such an academy which would bring only good to the community and country.
The opening ceremony was followed by the first game between New Amsterdam Multilateral (NA Multi) and Berbice Educational Institute with the former winning by 2-0.
Scoring for the winners were Chad Henry (6th) and Tavil Simpson (54th).
The Scotiabank/Pepsi football programme was held among schools in Georgetown for the last two years, but this year it has been expanded to New Amsterdam and Linden. The tournament phase for Georgetown and Linden Schools began on March 23 with Georgetown having 13 schools participating while Linden had six.
The programme is for male and female students between the ages of 10 and 15.
The competition aspect will continue this weekend in Georgetown and Linden with a number of games.
On Saturday April 6 at the Ministry of Education Sports Complex Ground, Carifesta Avenue, at 09:00hrs, Christ Church Secondary will come up against Central High in a female game, at 10:30hrs St. Stanislaus College and Tucville High will clash in a male game and at 12:00hrs School of the Nations will oppose Campbellville in another male encounter.
On Sunday April 7 at 09:00hrs Christ Church and St George’s males will collide at 10:30hrs. Campbellville and Charlestown females will meet and at 12:00hrs Central High and Tutorial males will bring down the curtain.
In Linden at the Wisburg Secondary School ground on Saturday at 10:00hrs, Harmony Secondary will do battle with Mackenzie High in a male game and at 11:30hrs Wismar Christianburg Secondary and New Silver City will meet in a male game.
In Berbice, action will continue on Saturday April 13 with 3 games at the All Saints Ground commencing at 09:00hrs when Berbice Education Institute confront Vryman’s Erven Secondary then at 10:30hrs Canje Secondary and Tutorial High are scheduled to meet.  NA Multi and Berbice High will close off the day’s action starting at 12:00grs.
Students participating in the programme can use knowledge gained from the coaching and referee courses for their CXC exams while at the end of the tournament phase in July, All-Star teams will be selected to go into training.
For more information on the Scotiabank/Pepsi Football programme visit the GSDF’s website at .http://www.guysportsdevelopment.com/schoolfootball.html or on Facebook at Scotiabank/Pepsi School Football – Guyana