… Organisers satisfied with outcome to date
AT THE launching of the second annual Milo-sponsored Petra Organisation-organised Under-20 Schools Football Championships last month, Petra Director Troy Mendonca said his organisation’s primary interest is to resuscitate the sport at the youth level while attempting to add to what has already been learnt by some.However, when two students from St Winefride’s Secondary and Tutorial High decided to get involved in an on-field brawl during one of the preliminary round matches last week Sunday, indiscipline ruined the day, as they brought the action to an abrupt halt and later to be abandoned.
With that in mind, Mendonca in an invited comment underlined his Organisation’s zero tolerance on indiscipline and insularity by saying, “Our immediate action was expelling from the tournament, both institutions who were in default.
“We have forwarded a report to the Allied Arts Department within the Ministry of Education, with the hope of meeting them in the not-too-distant future, to decide further any other action they would recommend to the defaulters who brought the game into disrepute.”
However, on the brighter side, Mendonca believes the tournament is heading in the right direction, enabling the Petra Organisation to realise its goals for not only the tournament, but also the sport in Guyana as well.
“We have seen teams come back stronger to stake a claim for supremacy, while some new teams such as Kingston, Queenstown, Queen’s College and Chase Academy have organised themselves better.
They are among some schools who have brought a high level of competition to the tournament, making it one of high quality while being highly competitive to their more illustrious opponents to date,” said Mendonca.
Despite the on-field hiccup that brought one game into disrepute, Mendonca was showered praise on the Ministry of Health-organized two-day Gender Base Violence (GBV), as it also allowed for coaches to be identified for each of the 24 schools competing in the tournament.
“Through the GBV lecture, we were able to have coaches being identified for each school, ensuring adequate preparations and personnel to provide amicable competition on the day in question.
“I believe that other organisers of school competitions, namely Digicel and Kashif and Shanghai should go this route also, with the aim of making their tournaments more competitive, while at the same time developing football within the schools,” Mendonca stated.
He said he was satisfied with the quality of football he has seen so far and went one step further to say some serious challenges will be forthcoming to schools in the knockout round which kicks off on Saturday at the Ministry of Education ground.
“St George’s are the defending champions, but based on the quality of football being played by the other schools, I think they will be hard-pressed to retain their title this year, unless they pull a trump card out of the pack.”
Saturday’s action will kick off at 11:00hrs and will see Dolphin Secondary take on St. Mary’s High, South Ruimveldt challenge Lodge Secondary, Queen’s College meet North Georgetown Secondary and Charlestown go head-to-head with Kingston High.
On Sunday, Bishops’ High and North Ruimveldt Multilateral will clash from 11:00hrs, Christ Church will seek to advance to the quarterfinal at the expense of Chase Academy, Carmel and Queenstown will face off before Tucville attempt to thwart St George’s efforts to retain the title.
By Calvin Roberts