…, set to kick off September 18

By Clifton Ross
PETRA Organisation yesterday launched its 3rd edition GUYOIL/Tradewind Tankers Secondary Schools Football League set to kick off September 18 and end November 6.

At GUYOIL’s Green Office, Providence Terminal, East Bank Demerara, members of the soccer fraternity, organisers and National Sports Commission (NSC) Assistant Director of Sport Melissa Dow-Richardson, gave insight into the upcoming event.

Teams from the following 8 schools will compete Dolphin, North Georgetown, President’s College, West Ruimveldt, Golden Grove, Christianburg/Wismar, Cummings Lodge, and Friendship Secondary. All fixtures will be hosted at the Ministry of Education ground.

Teams will battle for the $500 000 first prize, which will go towards a school project, along with the championship trophy.
Meanwhile second-, third- and fourth- place winners will pocket $300 000, $200 000, and $100 000, also towards the school initiative.

Individual awards include Most Valuable Player (MVP), Highest Goal Scorer and Best Goalie. Troy Mendonca, co-Director of the Petra Organisation, highlighted the importance of sponsorship, especially over the last two years.

He said the format will be utilised to its fullest as is most critical for the development of young footballers.
Speaking on behalf on the tournament sponsors, Berkeley McCalman, GUYOIL Bulk Sales Executive, said, “The idea of the football tournament was first presented in 2018 by the Petra Organisation and became an annual event for us.

He explained that due to the world crisis, “we were unable to facilitate it in 2020 and 2021, but things are returning to normalcy, with our commitment to making a positive contribution towards the development of our youths and community”.

Dow-Richardson outlined that the National Sports Commission and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport are in full support of the overall development of sport.
“This particular tournament is an excellent demonstration of collaboration across many sectors.” She stated.

Richardson further added that Petra Organisation has been consistent in its focus to develop schools football and sports as a whole.
GFF Technical Director, Bryan Joseph, said the rebirth of football within the school system was good for the fraternity, praising both GUYOIL and Petra for a continued partnership in football.

Head of the Physical Education department at the Ministry of Education, Kirk Brathwaite, said the ministry is keen on its support for sports. He said this specific tournament is a good way for youths to push onwards as they seek to represent the national team.