THE Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) on Saturday launched its 2022 Senior League tournament at the Linden Mayor and Town Council’s Chambers.

President of the UDFA, Wainwright Bethune, at the launch stated, “We know that this game was on a two-year hiatus and for reasons that we all know, there was a pandemic for two years. With the support we know that this league will be a success.”

Bethune reported that Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has committed through the Member Football Associations Programme (MFAP) to take responsibilities for all the operational costs in this tournament.
He also stated that the UDFA is pursuing prize-money sponsorship adding that “we have the confidence with 39 days of football and over 78 games that during this two-month period sponsorship will be secured.”

He appealed for the support of the 13 clubs participating in the round-robin format championship which begins this Sunday and will conclude on August 10 at the tournament venue Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) ground.
Bethune said that he was aware of the challenges ahead but asked for all parties to work together to combat those challenges to make the tournament a success.

He told the teams that there will be an official March Past this Sunday and the players must be decked out in their club colours.
Some 78 games are to be played and among those clubs that will be contesting this time around will be Elite Team Milerock FC and Kwakwani Strikers out of Sub-Region Two of Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice) area.

The other clubs are Hi Stars, Coomacka United, Botofago, Blueberry Hill United, Amelia’s Ward Panthers, Winners Connection, Topp XX, Eagles United, Net Rockers, Capital FC and Silver Shattas. Each club can register up to 25 players.

At stake in this tournament once the UDFA secures the corporate sponsorship will be a winners’ purse of $800 000, with the runners-up collecting $400 000, third collecting $200 000 and fourth $100 000.