WITH full support from the Government of Guyana and the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Digicel launched their 5th Annual Schools football Championship at the Beterverwagting (BV) Secondary School Auditorium. The U-18 age-group tournament will kick off on June 17; featuring 160 schools from across Guyana in a ‘win or go home’ format
According to Jacqueline James, Digicel’s Marketing Manager, the schools will be placed in zones, with Georgetown being divided into three sections (East Coast, East Bank Demerara and Georgetown) and then broken down into two divisions; North and South Zone.
James said that with the new format 12 Regional champions will be crowned who will then battle for the National Championship on August 12 at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.
The tournament’s most successful school, Christianburg Wismar Secondary (Multi) of Linden, hold the title, winning it three consecutive years after finishing as runners-up in the inaugural championship.
Recently appointed Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, told the gathering of players, teachers and other stakeholders of the game in Guyana, that Digicel’s input into the livelihood of youths in Guyana through sports, has not gone unnoticed.
Jones noted, that the Government wishes to commend Digicel for their exceptional role in bringing the premier Schools football championship to Guyana and that the support will be given to help in its sustainability.
Clinton Urling, Chairman of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Normalisation Committee not only used Digicel as an example of how corporate Guyana should be investing into sport, but also said that the tournament has played an important role in helping in the development of the Guyana in Guyana.
Urling said that the Digicel Schools football championship is by far the country’s largest football tournament and it should not be underestimated and should be supported by all.
An animated Chief Executive Officer of Digicel, Kevin Kelly, in his candid address, spoke at length of how much work is put into making the event one that reaches almost every community in Guyana and the importance it plays in grooming the future stars of the game.