THE East Bank Football Association (EBFA) yesterday teamed up with Continental Group of Companies under their Cult Energy Drink brand to launch their inaugural Under-17 championships which will kick off on Saturday May 17 at the Grove Community Centre ground. 

Eight teams (Kuru Kuru Warriors, Timehri Panthers, Grove Hi-Tech, Diamond United, Herstelling United, Mocha Champs, Agricola Red Triangle and Soesdyke Falcons) will play the round-robin formatted tournament and the top four teams will advance to the knockout stage to vie for top prizes and bragging rights.
Corporate Secretary Percival Boyce told the gathering of media and football officials at his company’s Ruimveldt Estate office location that they are “pleased to support the youths and by extension the EBFA as a good corporate citizen should, in answering the call for support with activities in the East Bank community”
Boyce further congratulated the EBFA for its initiative with the tournament which he said is aimed at preparing the youths of the respective clubs affiliated with the Association, for challenges ahead.
Secretary of the EBFA, Franklin Wilson, while thanking the company for coming on board said that the tournament is a continuation of his Association’s developmental programme, picking up from its just concluded Trophy Stall-sponsored U-17 tournament.
“This partnership with Continental and Cult Energy Drink is something we tend to continue over the coming years and we’re also focusing on encouraging the youngsters to stay in school because education is important and there is a life after football.
This tournament is not about running around the field for 90 minutes and kicking a ball, it’s all about setting a solid foundation for our youngsters because ultimately, the EBFA is aiming to ensure that our players get access beyond the shores of Guyana,” Wilson said.
The former Guyana Football Federation (GFF) president and Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Marketing & Media Committee Member used the exploits of National striker Trayon Bobb who plays professionally in Lithuania as an example of what his association is trying to produce.
Wilson made it clear that no monetary prizes will be given to the clubs or its players. Prizes so far include trophies and commitment made by an overseas-based sponsor for a laptop to the most outstanding player of the tournament.
“It’s illegal to give the players at this age group money but what we have are some prizes that will certainly be encouraging to them,” Wilson pointed out.

(By Rawle Toney)