IN less than two weeks, the Petra Organisation will kick off another edition of their famed KFC International Schools Goodwill Football Tournament set for the Ministry of Education Ground.
On Tuesday, the grass roots football organiser got its latest injection of support from the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry’s (GBTI) Kingston Corporate Office.
GBTI Marketing Manager Pernell Cumming says the bank believes this move to be more than corporate support.
“I won’t just say a sponsorship but really an investment and I trust that Chase Academy the defending champions and I do hope that one of the three teams, Chase Academy, West Ruimveldt or Annai Secondary from Region Nine will represent; will stand out and return with the championship to Guyana. We are a bank and we believe in investments in the future of Guyana.”
He added that, “Football is one of the sports that I do believe the Caribbean, not only Guyana but the Caribbean as a whole can make an impact on the world stage and just recently, we saw the Lady Jags play and we see them continue to do well.”
Organiser Troy Mendonca welcomed the bank on board as newest sponsor of the competition which is into its sixth year.
“I want to say to you that your contribution is not only a donation as it relates to covering our logistics but it’s an investment that you can see youths graduating from this tournament,” Mendonca added.
“About three years ago when I said to a senior football executive of this country that we are inviting Jamaica, which at the time was Clarendon College – at the time was the champion team of Jamaica – because of us seeing so much football being played in that country, he was like ‘are you guys ready for Jamaica? I said based on my experience over the years, I have seen teams come to this country in other tournaments and our local team rise to the occasion, so Clarendon College came and then the second year Chase Academy beat the top teams from Trinidad and Jamaica and today they are the defending champions so that in itself says how important is it to support this tournament.”
The defending champions alongside West Ruimveldt and Annai Secondary will face off with the best secondary school teams from Suriname, Brazil, Bahamas, Jamaica and Trinidad.
They are Montiero Lobato School (Boa-Vista Brazil), Kingston College from Jamaica, Anglican Central Educational Authority (ACEA) from Bahamas, Nikerie Select from Suriname.
The series also has the backing of Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Royals International Hotel and New GPC.
It will be played from December 14 –21.