..Minister Valerie Garrido-Low named patron of NWFA

By Ras Wadada

WOMEN’s football in Guyana has received a timely boost from the world governing body FIFA,which is mainly sponsoring a developmental league for thirteen teams from across the country. At the official launch held yesterday at the National Resource Centre, Woolford Avenue,it was announced that the 7-a-side, fifty minutes per game competition will kick off on September 17th.
In giving an overview of the league, President of the National Women Football Association (NWFA), Charmaine Wade told the gathering which included the Honorable Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Low,that the 13 teams have been divided into three districts and it is hoped that the competition will be played over two rounds.
District one comprises – Fruta Conquerors, Foxy Ladies, GDF,and Bartica; District two will be made up of – New Amsterdam Warriors, West Side Conquerors, Coco Warriors, Demerara Queens,and Kwakwani strikers and among the teams from Rupununi’s District three are – Saints FC, Snatchers FC, Hymac Warriors and Shulinab.
Wade declared that all participating teams must register four U-15 players in their roster of 12 (minimum) or 15 (maximum),and that the League’s first round should be completed by the end of November with next year February/March as the tentative time to start the second round of games.
The NWFA head also thanked the Guyana Football Federation (GFF),as well as her executive for their input in realizing the developmental league. Wade told the gathering that the objective of the league is to “increase participation in women’s football and to widen our national selection pool”, while indicating that in another three years the NWFA will be looking to expand the league into an eleven a-side competition.
Also addressing the gathering was second vice president of the GFF, Ralston Adams, who stated that the GFF understands the importance of the league and the opportunity it presents for local players.
“We think it is important to provide this opportunity for local women to be given a chance to develop and showcase their talent, thereby providing them with an opportunity for selection in the national set up”, Adams explained.
The VP also introduced six players nominated to be potential ambassadors of the League: Shameka Marcus of Foxy Ladies,as well as Fruta Conquerors’ players, Colette Hope, Odessa Romeo, Shanaiah Riley, Ruth George and 12-year-old Alicia Adams.
Adams also highlighted and introduced some 14 match commissioners,who will be trained and used in the league. Among the new faces are Media personalities, Nerissa Pearson, Feliz Robertson and Wanita Huburn. The others offering their services to the sport are, Beverly Fields, Tamika Boastwain, Pamela Humphrey, Varshanee Yusuf, Shaline Jagdeo, Phyllis Hercules, Alana Bose, Wanika Arrindell, Melissa Roberts, and long-serving administrators of the sport, Lavern Fraser and Andrea Johnson.
In introducing the guest speaker, Minister Garrido-Low, the GFF’s VP announced that the Honorable Minister had accepted the request to be the patron of Women’s football.
“Today is a special day for women’s football in Guyana. The GFF must be applauded for its efforts. Having a developmental league of this nature is excellent for the growth and expansion of football locally and in keeping on par with the International direction of the sport…Football is the best sport in the world, I say this unequivocally, but it’s not for men.
“Today’s women football is competitive and exciting…Guyana has raw talent. As a woman who has travelled the length and breath of this country,(I know) the talent is here.
“The girls just need someone to hone their skills, and this developmental league can be the catalyst…I am optimistic about the future of women football in Guyana”, the new patron of women’s football in Guyana told the first audience she addressed.
In concluding,the Minister emphasised how elated she is to be working with the GFF. “I am personally excited and wish to thank the GFF’s Executive body for offering me this opportunity to be Patron…I am happy to work with you and am committed to women’sfootball.”