By Calvin Chapman
THE inaugural and prestigious One Guyana President’s Cup football tournament was officially launched last evening at State House in a significant ceremony that had in attendance His Excellency, President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali who gave the feature address, Members of Parliament, corporate supporters and other football stakeholders.

The One Guyana President’s Cup football tournament begins the second stage that will see the top players from each Administrative Region work towards helping their side emerge champions of the inter-Region arm of the competition, which kicks off this Sunday at the National Track & Field Centre (NTFC) and culminates on January 1, 2023.

During his address, the Head of State revealed his visionary plan for this tournament, which has an incentive budget of $30M, as the first step towards Guyana Senior National Men’s side; the Golden Jaguars, qualifying for the 2026 World Cup that is scheduled to be hosted in USA, Canada and Mexico.

“This is about us getting into the next World Cup. The government is committed to removing all barriers that are preventing you (Golden Jaguars) from reaching the World Cup”, President Ali said.

He further disclosed, “We will put together the best 75 players to form the national pool, and be part of the National Football Academy. Football will be their food and fuel for the next few years in preparation for the next World Cup.”

In addition to being compensated for being part of the academy, His Excellency posited that the players will have to remain committed, “You will have to subject yourself to training. You will have to make positive contribution to the community and will be part of the part-time employment programme (for added income).”

However, President Ali maintained that the GFF and the GoG are not abandoning the Lady Jags, and hinted that a similar tournament for the ladies may be brewing for Easter 2023.

The One Guyana President’s Cup football tournament is collaboration among the Government of Guyana (GoG), the Guyana Football Federation and the Kashif & Shanghai Organinsation.

President Ali stated that “we must remember those who invest in us and we must invest in them too”, before revealing some of the sponsors who have come on board so far: Caribbean Airlines, New GPC, Ansa McAl, GTT, Digicel, E-Networks, Edward B. Beharry Group, Sterling Products Ltd, Banks DIH (tentative) and Tiger Rentals.