AS part of its five-year strategic developmental partnership, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and the National Milling Company (NAMILCO), yesterday unveiled the second annual Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 Intra-Association tournament, set to kick off in March.

Scheduled to end in late July with the National Inter-Association Playoffs, the tournament which will feature teams from the nine Regional Member Associations (RMAs), will coincide with the Milling Company’s 50th anniversary this year.
Participating teams will come from the nine RMAs, namely Bartica, Berbice, East Bank Demerara, East Demerara, Essequibo/Pomeroon, Georgetown, Rupununi, Upper Demerara and West Demerara.

At the official launch at NAMILCO’s head office at Agricola, high-ranking officials of the two entities spoke of the impact the tournament has had on Guyana’s football development, and their expectations of the signature 2019 event.

Managing Director of NAMILCO, Bert Sukhai, said the company, which has been in existence since 1969, is committed to the development of football in Guyana, and that was aptly demonstrated by the signing of a five-year, multi-million dollar sponsorship package with the GFF in 2016.

“NAMILCO is here long-term and when we make a commitment we keep it. I want to wish you guys (GFF) well, in terms of your planning and ensuring it is executed properly, down to the lowest level. You have to be on top of things to keep it going. All your RMAs have to be fully alert to what their responsibilities are and what we expect of them,” Sukhai commented.

Competitions Director of the GFF, Ian Alves, said the effect of this single tournament on the performance of the national teams, at the youth level in international football since its commencement, has been “immeasurable.”
He reflected that the inaugural competition in 2018 “was successfully conducted” with a total of 514 games, involving teams from all corners of Guyana, producing 1,033 goals.
Alves posited that the tournament “contributed significantly to youth development and youth playing football in Guyana.”

Technical Director of the GFF, Ian Greenwood, added that the tournament has taken on added significance this year, pointing out that, “This year we have the World Cup Qualifiers coming up in May, and because Guyana Under-17 is now ranked 18th in CONCACAF, which is a massive jump up from what it was, we’ve been pushed into the final round, so in May, we will play Haiti, Honduras and El Salvador. Obviously, it’s a very tough group, but it shows the work we’ve been doing at the Under-17 level, to ensure we’ve been ranked 18th”.

GFF president Wayne Forde, in extending congratulations and best wishes to the management and staff of NAMILCO on their Golden Jubilee, said the Federation is pleased to play a part in observing the occasion.

“I think it is fitting that football is taking centre stage on such an auspicious occasion for this company, and it speaks to company’s values as it relates to the reinvestment into our most important asset, and that is our human asset,” Forde said.