THE sixth edition of the ExxonMobil boys and girls U-14 schools football tournament is set to kick off on June 14, promising a month of intense youth football action culminating on July 12 at the Ministry of Education Ground, Carifesta Avenue.

This highly anticipated event remains a cornerstone for youth development in Guyanese football.

At Thursday’s official launch, held at Cara Lodge, Troy Mendonca, Co-Director of the coordinating body, Petra Organisation, outlined the tournament’s ambitious scale.

The main draw will feature 32 male and 24 female teams, competing initially in a group format before advancing to knockout rounds.

Mendonca revealed that a staggering 56 male teams and 36 female teams have already expressed interest, necessitating preliminary matches to narrow down the field.

He reiterated Petra’s commitment to ensuring the tournament’s resounding success, providing a crucial platform for young talents to showcase their skills.

Oil giant ExxonMobil has once again demonstrated its unwavering commitment to youth sports, sponsoring the tournament to the tune of GY$20.9 million.

Okeme Beaton, Commercial Advisor for ExxonMobil Guyana, highlighted the consistent growth observed in the young athletes.

“Every year we see growth in talent, sportsmanship and vigour,” Beaton stated, emphasising the company’s core focus on supporting communities and their firm belief in sport as a vital pillar for youth development.

Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, challenged the organisers to expand the tournament’s reach, urging them to capture teams from all regions, noting that only regions eight and nine are currently unrepresented.

Ninvalle affirmed the National Sports Commission’s (NSC) willingness to assist in bridging this geographical gap, further indicating the NSC’s commitment to sponsoring an additional prize for the Most Promising Player, an incentive aimed at further nurturing emerging talent.

Some players, he indicated, should feature in the Inter-Guiana Games set for December 5-7 in Guyana.

The tournament offers a compelling array of individual and team prizes, designed to benefit both the athletes and their schools. Individual accolades include: Most Valuable Player: GY$60,000 in school supplies, a trophy, and a pair of football boots; Highest School Goal Scorers: GY$60,000 in school supplies, a trophy, and a pair of football boots and Best Goalkeeper: GY$60,000 in school supplies, a trophy, and football gloves.

Additionally, the top four teams in both the boys’ and girls’ categories will receive substantial prizes: GY$400,000 (first), GY$200,000 (second), GY$100,000 (third), and GY$75,000 (fourth). Crucially, all team prize money is allocated towards school projects.