THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) will soon roll out in detail its plans to host three year-end football tournaments but one assurance asserted by president Wayne Forde is that all who seek to participate, must have taken a COVID-19 vaccine.

“I would like to be absolutely clear – only vaccinated players, officials, fans, and all other categories of stakeholders shall be permitted to participate in these activities,” Forde stressed yesterday at a press briefing, as he revealed the unflinching mandate being imposed.

Last year, GFF, in collaboration with the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation and Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, hosted the first sanctioned football tournament in Guyana since the pandemic struck in March 2020.

That tournament culminated on January 1, 2021, at Guyana National Stadium, Providence, and four teams contested.
This year the aim is to host a male Super-16 Cup, Futsal Championship Cup and for the first time, a Women’s Super-16 Cup.

“It goes without saying that the past 19 months have been extraordinarily disruptive to football across Guyana. We have been unable to fully experience the excitement and passion of the beautiful game, which has brought about an elevated sense of anticipation among players, fans, officials, sponsors, and the public,” Forde stated.

Noting it was premature at this stage to say when precisely these events may potentially start, Forde indicated the Federation, in the coming days, will share full details of these tournaments and they will also announce the partnerships they are currently negotiating.

Forde said that majority of the Elite League clubs have indicated a willingness to get their players vaccinated as the federation works closely with the Ministry of Health to establish vaccination sites in the nine Member Associations.

Forde said they will be guided by the Ministry of Health on the decision they would make as to whether persons will have to be fully vaccinated or it will be open for persons with at least one dose.

He further clarified that even if persons stand the cost of the PCR tests on their own, they still will not be allowed to play, noting that vaccination is mandatory to be part of the tournaments.