… some $5M at stake in prize money.
THE leading flour company in Guyana on Friday launched the 7th edition of the NAMILCO-sponsored Fruta Conquerors football tournament dubbed ‘One Love Football Classic’.
The launch took place in the flour company’s boardroom of the National Milling Company Limited (NAMILCO) McDoom head office.Teams from five associations will be competing when action kicks off on March 23 at the Tucville ground with teams from Slingerz FC, Santos, Pele, Top 20, Buxton United, Seawall United and Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United all going into action.
During Friday’s launch, president of Fruta Conquerors FC Wayne Ford while urging other corporate entities to come on board, assured the tournament’s sponsors that their investments will not be in vain.
“We believe that the possibility exists for other clubs to forge the same relationship with other business entities and maybe in another few years if not so long, we will see similar tournaments all around and I think it is a good way for corporate and sports to work together, Ford said.
“Seven years is a long time and I can assure you that we will do everything in our power to see it goes way beyond 7 years, he assured.
Director of Sport Neil Kumar applauded the organisers and sponsors for making this an annual event and challenged them to aim for higher goals.
“We should have a youth tournament, in cricket. We have an Under-15 tournament, we have an Under-17 tournament, we have a Regional Under-19 tournament. Why you don’t get a youth tournament. The youth tournament will be the reservoir for the national team, will be the reservoir for the youth players, and the youths will be looking forward to this,” Kumar stated.
Meanwhile, president of the Guyana Football Federation Christopher Matthias who has committed to working with any entity desirous of developing the sport also commended NAMILCO and Fruta Conquerors for their contributions to the growth of the game.
“It is what we urge every single club in Guyana to embrace as we seek to develop football. Let me assure you, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) remains committed to doing what it is required to do by FIFA and CONCACAF, Matthias said.
With some $5M at stake, the winner will walk away with a handsome purse of $1.2M, while the second-place team will receive $600 000. At stake for the third-place team is $400 000,