LAST Friday, the Hope Football Club (HFC) of Tucber Park, New Amsterdam, officially launched its inaugural Under-20 tournament during a live television programme at DTV-8 in N/A.

During the launching, Public Relations Officer of the Club, Michael Khan, gave a brief overview of the establishment of the club, while president/founder of the unit, Kevin Henry, highlighted the reasons behind the establishment of the HFC.
“Our objective is to provide each member of the HFC, with equal opportunity to sport and academics. It goes beyond a game. Football is a business in the developed world and it is our hope that some day our members can gain scholarships to study abroad and eventually become a part of the top club teams in the world,” Henry emphasised.
Vice-president of the HFC and Berbice Football Association (BFA), Mark Adams, in his remarks, spoke of the administrative structure of the HFC and explained that every event of the club will be executed transparently and, together with the BFA, the HFC will try to remove the stigma that is plaguing local football.
Also present at the launching was the acting president of the BFA, Clay Flatts, who pledged the support of the BFA to the upcoming tournament. He also took the opportunity to congratulate the ‘new’ club for launching a major tournament that will attract 8 teams on the East and West Coast of Berbice.
The tournament was scheduled to commence on July 3 but, owing to the ongoing Digicel/PowerAde nationwide Schools tournament, adjustments have been made to the fixtures so as to cater for the availability of players and venue.
The first match kicks off on Saturday, July 6 at the Scott’s School ground with HFC taking on Cougars FC at 16:30hrs; Paradise FC will also clash with Rosignol United FC at 16:00hrs and No. 5 FC l take on HFC ‘A’ at the No. 5 ground at 15:30hrs on the West side.
On Sunday, July 7, the tournament continues with N/A United FC taking on Corriverton Lynx FC at the Scott’s School ground, while Paradise FC will clash with No. 5 FC at No. 5 and Rosignol United will meet HFC ‘A’ at Rosignol. All matches commence at 15:30hrs.
The fixtures for the game on July 13 and 14 will be released on or before July 7.
Meanwhile, the HFC will have an added boost to its unit with former national player, Adrian ‘Sugar Foot’ Forde, joining the coaching staff to impart his skills and knowledge that made him one of the premier footballers that Guyana has ever produced.
Forde, a resident of Tucber Park, relishes the opportunity to coach the youths who are part of the club which was established in memory of his late friend and fellow footballer Wilbur Hope.
Hope, a former athlete, cricket and national footballer, died over a decade ago in the United States of America. Last October, Kevin Henry who was  mentored by the late Hope, founded the Hope Memorial Foundation (HMF) after successfully executing a one-week football tournament for secondary schools in the N.A/Canje education district.
The HFC which is an arm of the HMF is affiliated to the BFA and run by a constitution and an executive body.
The full executive body includes: president/founder Kevin Henry, vice-president Mark Adams, treasurer Jeanesse Gray, secretary Rosalind Forde, logistics and mentoring officer Glendon Boodhoo, PRO Michael Khan and committee member Simone Bollers.
The coaches are Colin ‘Ash’ Bowry and Adrian ‘Sugar Foot’ Forde.