– “it’s about trying to get football moving from the bottom up” – Sukhai

THE wait is over! The highly anticipated Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 Football League will kick off today from 12:00 hrs at the Esplanade ground, New Amsterdam, Berbice.Today’s proceedings will see three matches, the first of which will pit Corriverton Links against Mahaicony Thunder Hawks which will then be followed by the march past at 13:30 hrs.
The football action will resume at 14:00 hrs when Paradise Invaders will take on Canefield Diamond Strikers, which should set the tone for the feature clash between Monedderlust and New Amsterdam United from 16:00 hrs.
Managing Director of the National Milling Company of Guyana (NAMILCO), Roopnarine Sukhai, says the rationale behind sponsoring the tournament is essentially “about trying to get football moving from the bottom up.”
He is of the view that this national tournament allows the company to have a greater scope to market its various brands and at the same time allowing the catalyst of Guyana’s future footballers to develop.
The Milling Company is no stranger to investing into sports, especially that of football, since they would have partnered with Fruta Conquerors for the “NAMICLO One Love Classic,” but felt that tournament was limited to the Georgetown populace.
Finance Controller of the company Fitzroy McLeod explained that “for the game to develop, it has to be played throughout the year and the youngster didn’t have anything to keep them involved in the sport, so we bought into the tournament so it will be on a yearly basis and the GFF has focused on a national programme.”
The tournament will conclude in June 2017 with an expected break in November –December 2016 and will be played in the nine football associations affiliated to the GFF.
These associations are: Bartica Football Association (BFA), Berbice Football Association (BFA), East Demerara Football Association (EDFA), East Bank Football Association (EBFA), Essequibo Coast/Pomeroon Football Association, Georgetown Football Association (GFA), Rupununi Football Association (RFA), Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) and the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA).

The competing clubs of the EBFA are Herstelling Raiders, Soesdyke Falcons, Grove Hi Tech, Agricola Red Triangle, Kuru Kururu Warriors, Yarrowkabra Jaguars, Friendship All Stars, Mocha Champs, Diamond United and Craig.
While for the BFA are Canefield Diamond Strikers, Mahaicony Thunder Hawks, Corriverton Links, Monedderlust, Cougars, New Amsterdam United, East Bank, Paradise Invaders, Hopetown United Rangers and Rosignol United; the other associations are expected to name their teams in the coming days.
NAMILCO has for 47 years been Guyana’s main provider of wholesome and nutritious wheaten flour products (including Thunderbolt and Maid Marian flour) and a line of healthy and convenient value-added products including Pholourie and Roti Mixes, Wheat up, Whole wheat and Harvest High Fibre flour.

Admission to the ground is free.