Republic Bank Guyana has partnered with the Petra Organization to launch the fifth edition of the Under-18 School Football League. The league aims to foster youth development through sports and create opportunities for personal growth and community engagement.
Oral Chase, Manager of Internal Audit at Republic Bank Guyana, emphasized the bank’s commitment to supporting initiatives beyond financial sponsorship. He highlighted the importance of investing in youth sports to mold a better society.

Troy Mendonca, Co-Director of the Petra Organization, stressed the value of league competitions to young athletes. He emphasized the opportunities for showcasing talent, developing skills and learning important life lessons.
Nicholas Fraser, Head of the Allied Arts Unit at the Ministry of Education, underscored the motivational role of tournaments in inspiring young players to strive for excellence. He praised Petra’s well-structured calendar of activities for providing consistent opportunities for engagement in sports.

The league features a competitive lineup of participating teams, including Chase Academic Foundation, Bartica Secondary, East Ruimveldt Secondary, West Ruimveldt Secondary, Waramuri Top Secondary, President’s College, and Dolphin Secondary. These teams were selected based on their Milo Schools Football tournament performance.
The league will run for seven weeks, with the opening match between East Ruimveldt Secondary and Bartica Secondary on Sunday, October 27th.

The top two teams from the league will qualify for a year-end international school football tournament, where they will compete against teams from neighboring Caribbean countries.
The league offers a prize structure that benefits schools directly. The first-place team will receive $300,000 while the second-place team will earn $150,000. Third and fourth places will be awarded $75,000 and $50,000 respectively. These funds will be invested in school projects to foster further development.

In addition to monetary awards, participating teams will compete for medals and trophies. Individual awards will also be given to recognize outstanding performances throughout the league.