-teams presented with equipment

THE Petra Organisation, organisers of the Courts Optical Under 11 Pee Wee Football competition on Tuesday held their ball distribution and team briefing exercise at the National Library auditorium.

Director Troy Mendonca told the teams gathered that the platform provided is one that should be valued after 12 storied years.

He applauded the persons behind the scenes and the teams who have done the ground work over the years to prepare student athletes.

“This compliment must be extended to the teacher and head teachers because without you there is no ‘we’. We want to show our appreciation for your efforts you ladies and gentleman have been putting in as it relates to all these programmes that are being hosted by us in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.”

Courts Optical chain manager Richard Simpson said, “I’m happy that we all could be here to support the younger generation, one of the things I strongly believe and mention at every forum is that the youth are the future and there is no better way to develop our future than to develop our youth. Courts Optical has been in Guyana for 10 years, so it’s a milestone year.”

Eon De Veira, representing the Unit of allied arts at the Ministry of Education were also on hand to offer support once again to the competition.

The tournament officially kicks off with 32 teams on Saturday September 27 at the Ministry of education ground.

The primary schools’ sides are divided into eight groups of four
for round-robin play with the top two from each group advancing to the knockout stage.

The competition will then feature the round of 16s, quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final.

Prizes will be awarded to the top eight schools, including trophies, medals, televisions, and tablets. Individual awards will also be presented for the most valuable player, highest goal-scorer, best goalkeeper, and most disciplined school.

The 12th edition of the competition is set to conclude on December 1st with all games at the CARFESTA Avenue ground.

The tournament is also sponsored by Demerara Mutual Insurance and Sterling Products Limited.