IN a show of continued progress at the youth level, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) will be partnering with SM Jaleel and Company and local distributors Guyana Beverages Inc. (GBI) under their ‘Kool Kidz’ brand, to stage its community grassroots programme.

At the launch yesterday, GFF president Wayne Forde, along with Technical Director Ian Greenwood and visiting FIFA Regional Director Marlon Glean, spoke profoundly of the importance of the programme for the development of the game in Guyana.

The launch was held at the Federation’s Section ‘K’ Campbellville headquarters.
Commercial Manager of Guyana Beverages Inc., Samuel Arjoon, told a gathering of the media and children from various communities in Georgetown, that “Guyana is a land full of potentials and many times we tend to refer to those potentials as only our natural resources.”

Arjoon further pointed out, “We often ignore the potential of our human capital, particularly in sports and arts. At the GBI one of our core values is the development of Guyanese human capital and as such the GFF grassroots programme is a perfect alignment of our values.”

Referring to the importance of programmes like this one in the region, Glean, who is visiting Guyana for the first time, positively stated his excitement in seeing the programme being rolled out, stating the initiative is in line with FIFA’s mandate for its Member Associations.

“In fact, all of the top (football) countries in the world focus greatly on grassroots football! I’ve been around the Caribbean where everybody is scampering to start the programme and I’m happy to be here at the launch. Guyana is one of the first countries in the region to start the grassroots programme and it’s commendable,” Glean boldly said.

Glean emphasised, “There’s no Messi, there’s no Ronaldo, without grassroots football. I want to thank Fruta and the Guyana Beverages Company for the foresight and the vision and the president of the GFF for bringing it together, so that everyone in Guyana could get the opportunity to play football. Grassroots football is where the dream starts.”

Ian Greenwood explained that part of the programme which commenced a few weeks ago in Albouystown will feature for the capacity development of community coaches as well.
Greenwood pointed out that the programme will also help to increase the playing population of the game, and will also play the role of a ‘feeder system’ to the already established programmes in the Academy Training Centres.

According to Greenwood, “The grassroots programmes will be going into the communities starting with male and female players with ages three, four and five.”
Meanwhile, Forde explained that the Federation is already running its Scotiabank academy training centres, “which are held weekends at various venues in all of our member associations,” adding, “but we felt the need to carry football to the people in addition to having the people come to football.

In the first week at Albouystown, over 100 kids signed up for the first day of activities. Although these kids have no formal training, it was exciting to see their level of ball weaving.”
Forde referred to the Guyana Beverages Inc. as the “steadfast investor in sports in general across Guyana”, stating that their investment in this regard is invaluable.