GUYANA Pharmaceutical Corporation, more popularly known as the New GPC and pasta and pastry giant Bakewell yesterday became the latest businesses to show support to this year’s Kashif and Shanghai football tournament.
The competition, which kicked off on last Saturday, is now in its 22nd year and is receiving tremendous support from corporate Guyana.
The New GPC handed over a cheque valued half a million dollars ($500 000) to Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major at their Farm, East Bank Demerara head office, where it was disclosed that their contribution is towards advertising the tournament.
This is the third year that the entity is throwing their weight behind the organisers, with them saying they see the competition reflecting a true Guyanese flavour and, apart from uniting, it also gives aspiring footballers a stage to show their talents to the world at large.
Major in his response said that the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation is more than grateful for the New GPC’s support and that they are looking forward to working with them next year.
Meanwhile, over at the Ministry of Education’s Brickdam location, Naeem Nasir, Bakewell’s chief executive officer (CEO), donated 4 600 tickets which are to be distributed to schools in Georgetown, Linden and Berbice.
The tickets which cost an estimated $4.6M, will afford schoolchildren a chance to witness Guyana’s premier sporting event; a move which is commonly done by the well known company.
According to Nasir, Bakewell has always shown its support to sports, with them being the only company that sponsors two football clubs (Topp XX and Buxton Stars) along with hosting a series of cricket tournaments across Guyana.
For the Sunday, December 18 game at the Uitvlugt Community Centre ground, 700 children will witness Bakewell Topp XX take on Seawall United and Bakewell Buxton Stars against Den Amstel.
At the Beterverwagting (BV) ground on Sunday December 21, another 700 are expected to see Victoria Kings play the winner of the Grove Hi-Tech/Net Rockers contest and BV Triumph the victors of the Buxton Stars/Den Amstel clash.
On Christmas Day (December 26), 600 children in Berbice will converge on the Blairmont Ground when Caledonia AIA of Trinidad face New Amsterdam United and Mill Ballers square off against Rosignol United.
In Linden on Boxing Day, 800 students from the mining town will converge on the Mackenzie Sports Club for another double-header while at the semi-finals at the Stadium on December 30, another 1 200 tickets will be distributed for children around the city.
For the five days tickets had totalled 4 000 but at yesterday’s handing-over, another 600 were given by Nasir who felt that more kids should have a chance to ease their minds after their end-of-term exams.
Permanent Secretary Delma Nedd and the Education Ministry Technical Assistant Melcita Bovell both conveyed the newly appointed Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand’s delight for the contribution made by Bakewell to the Ministry.
Bovell said that she feels sports plays an integral part in development as it is an additive for learning and also acts as stress relief.