…GDF women steal spotlight at presentation ceremony

THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Women’s Development League represents a transformative step toward advancing equality, opportunity, and excellence in the sport and according to Women’s Football Association (WFA) President Andrea Johnson, “built on the principles of empowerment, inclusion, and performance, this league provides a structured pathway for female athletes to develop their skills, compete at high levels, and pursue professional careers in football.”

Johnson made the assertions while delivering remarks at last Friday’s WFA presentation ceremony, held at the GFF National Training Centre (NTC) following the completion of the inaugural women’s league which saw the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) emerging victorious after playing unbeaten throughout the tournament.

The WFA President, along with General Secretary, Pushpargha Chattopadhyay were on hand to distribute the prizes to the winners, other participating teams and individuals.

Hailing the success of the women’s league, Johnson declared that “our mission is to nurture talent from the grassroots to the elite level, ensuring that every woman and girl with a passion for football has access to quality coaching, facilities, and competition.”

Through partnerships with local clubs, schools, and community organizations, the league aims to create a sustainable ecosystem that supports both athletic and personal growth.

Johnson pointed out that “the league is more than a competition; it is a movement to redefine the future of football. By investing in women’s development, we are investing in the sport’s long-term success, diversity, and global appeal.

Together, we will build a legacy that inspires the next generation of female athletes to dream bigger, play harder, and lead with confidence.”

The Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) Women’s Football team carted off the $1M grand prize, sealing the title with a 1-0 victory over arch-rivals the Guyana Police Force in the final game of the round-robin tournament last Friday with Sandra Johnson’s left-foot strike being the deciding factor. Both teams were unbeaten up to that stage.

GDF Women ended the tournament with the maximum 27 points from nine games, registering a staggering 140 goals in the process while they didn’t’ concede a single goal.

Johnson received the highest goal scorer award, netting a record 37 across nine games and was also awarded the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament while her teammate Deena Fredericks copped best goalkeeper award.

Second place Guyana Police Force received $500,000 while third place finishers Santos FC collected $300,000 and fourth- place finishers Fruta Conquerors FC $100,000.

Meanwhile, Fruta Conquerors booked their spot in the semi-finals of the Cup playoffs on Friday night, inflicting a 1-0 victory over Western Tigers with Akilah Blucher netting the game- winner in the 41st minute.

The playoff semi-finals are set for Friday with Santos taking on Police from 18:00hrs, while GDF clash with Fruta Conquerors from 19:30hrs.