The President of the Guyana Football Federation has hailed the launch of the Rupununi Football Association (RFA) Academy Training Centre (ATC) as “an important first step in a clear pathway for hinterland players to be channelled into the national programme”.

Attending the restart of the Rupununi ATC with GFF Youth Development Officer Bryan Joseph and U20 Men’s Head Coach Wayne Dover, President Wayne Forde praised President Rayan Farias and the Executive Committee of the RFA for the “remarkable” work they have put in so far to develop the sport across Region 9.

“It is my solemn hope, with the support of the wider community, the village leaders and other stakeholders within the region, that more young boys and girls will make it to the national teams of Guyana and go on to represent their country, region and villages with honour and distinction,” Forde said.

The GFF-funded ATCs create a national network and development pathway for youth football with professional coaching for girls and boys in the Federation’s nine regional associations. Through its ground-breaking Members Financial Assistance Programme (M-FAP), the GFF is providing all the resources necessary to deliver continuous youth programmes and competitions for the first time.

“We are handing over full ownership of this ATC to the Executive Committee of the RFA,” Forde continued. “Through M-FAP, the GFF will continue to pay the ATC staff, and provide all the equipment and funding necessary for our forthcoming inter-academy tournaments. We will also be conducting quality control visits along with child protection training. I would like to wish the RFA family every success in growing the ATC programme in the coming years by opening up more centres across the region.”

The RFA is the sixth GFF regional association to relaunch its ATC under a devolved structure which sees the management of the programme transferring to the regional associations, with resources and support provided by the GFF.

Regional associations responsible for Upper Demerara, West Demerara, Georgetown, East Bank Demerara and Bartica have also restarted their ATC programmes, with all activities conducted in compliance with strict COVID-19 protocols. For example, ATC staff must be vaccinated before taking part in any training sessions.