SCHOOLS who participated in the first-ever Guyana Sports Development Foundation (GSDF)-organised Scotiabank/Pepsi male and female schools football academy, last Saturday, received a quantity of gear from the national female Under-20 Lady Jaguars team at the Plaza Hotel on Main Street. According to GSDF President and Director Colin Baker, the gear will be handed over to the schools, following a visit and assessment which will be done by the GSDF local representative Lawrence ‘Sparrow’ Griffith.
“Prior to coming to Guyana to do battle in the CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Qualifying Championships, the members of the team reached out to the clubs they play for back in the United States of America for help to make this donation a reality.
The first set will be issued to schools who participated in the first ever GSDF/Scotiabank/Pepsi Schools Academy tournament held earlier this year, which culminated the first phase of our programme, while an assessment will be done to the other schools before the gear is distributed to them,” said Baker.
With members of the U-20 Lady Jaguars and their technical team along with Griffith, Demerara Distillers Limited Marketing Assistant Larry Wills in attendance, Baker said the second phase of the GSDF Schools Academy will get underway some time next month.
“We have had a successful first phase and it is only fair that we start the second phase as early as possible, hence same will commence next month, where we will be conducting courses for referees and officials, while the football tournament will get underway early next year.”
Also making brief remarks were Technical Director (TD) of the Lady Jaguars, Mark Rodrigues, and skipper of the team Justine Rodrigues who both called on the schools to make good use of the gear, with the TD saying it was a continuation of the work done by the senior Lady Jaguars last year.
In his remarks, Wills said DDL through its Pepsi brand of beverage, was pleased to be associated with both the GSDF and Scotiabank on this venture, while he highlighted his Company’s delight to be involved with the development of sports in Guyana and took the opportunity to congratulate and wish the Junior Lady Jags every continued success in their qualifying matches.
The Junior Lady Jaguars had a successful start to their qualifying rounds, defeating both Antigua and Barbuda and Anguilla by 7-0 and 5-0 margins respectively and need a victory over the Dominican Republic this afternoon to advance to the next round.