-Prize money to be sourced by the organisers-Adonis

President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Colin Klass (left) and FIFA Developmental Officer Harold Taylor (centre) pay keen attention as GFF’s general secretary Noel Adonis addresses the gathering at the launching of the National Super League, Sunday night at the Guyana Pegasus Hotel. (Cullen Bess-Nelson photo)

TEN teams including national club and three times Georgetown Football Association (GFA) Cellink Plus Premier League champions respectively Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United will be contesting the inaugural Guyana Football Federation (GFF) National Super League (NSL), which was launched last Sunday night at the Guyana Pegasus Hotel and kicks off this weekend.

In an invited comment with Chronicle Sport, general secretary of the GFF Noel Adonis stated that although the world governing body for the sport FIFA has contributed US$150,000 into this tournament for a two year period, the GFF still have to source the prize money from sponsors.

“While some may tend to think that the money that was given to the GFF by FIFA will be used as part of the prize money for this inaugural tournament, FIFA has clearly stated to us that such would not be permissible.”

Adonis, who also wears the cap of president of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) further stated, “The GFF will have to source the prize money for the tournament from corporate Guyana and sponsors and we have begun negotiations which we hope to conclude with a few potential sponsors, before the first ball is kicked off this Sunday.”

“As an added attraction, the GFF had sent an invitation to the Barbados Football Association (BFA), inviting their national team to play our Golden Jaguars on Sunday as part of the plans to kick off the NSL, but for reasons unknown they informed us of their unavailability to do so, hence we are forced to continue with the double header programme, with the second match being a NSL one” said Adonis.

According to the fixtures, the tournament which will be played on a one round, round robin format with the climax set for the place of commencement on November 11th, have matches being played around the diasporas of Guyana.

Linden’s Topp XX who happen to be the most decorated team in the largest football tournament held locally, the Kashif and Shangai annual competition, Milerock also out of the mining town and Georgetown’s Sunburst Camptown and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) football clubs, have all been invited to participate.

Berbice’s Rosignol United, Victoria Kings and Buxton United from East Coast coupled with Liquid Gold of Bartica and Seawall United (formerly Pouderoyen) of West Demerara complete the lineup of teams that will be competing for an unknown sum of money.

The Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) in Linden, Georgetown Football Club (GFC) or its neighbours Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) and Camp Ayanganna in Georgetown, Uitvlugt in West Demerara, Bartica Community Centre, Blairmont in West Berbice and Plaisance on the East Coast are all venues identified to host games in the NSL.

The NSL is an initiative of both FIFA and CONCACAF, as part of their “Win in CONCACAF with CONCACAF” development programmes that started in the African Continent a few years ago, to harness the talent of footballers there.

According to president of the GFF Colin Klass, president of CONCACAF and vice- president of FIFA respectively Austin ‘Jack’ Warner approached the governing body to introduce a similar programme in the Caribbean, something that has been realised with Guyana’s NSL.

“Thanks to Warner and FIFA for the realisation of the NSL, which could develop into a professional league on the local scene” said Klass.

He further stated that while there were lots of talks about who the teams should be to contest the NSL, persons need to realise that the aims of the tournament is to ensure a nursery is incorporated within the clubs, to fuel and further enhance the senior department of those clubs.

“Clubs who have an active nursery programme along with a strong development programme for their senior teams, will be eligible to compete in this tournament, as one of the main objectives of FIFA and CONCACAF, is to ensure the sport of football does not become dormant, especially in some countries.”

“To this effect, we will be running off and Under-13 and 15 as well as a women’s tournament which will run simultaneously with the NSL. It is not only about football, but the development of the sport that matters most where this league is concerned” said Klass.

Meanwhile, while the GFF was mum on the prize money which will be up for grabs in the NSL, an anonymous source has informed this reporter that the country’s local governing body for the world’s most popular sport, is looking at having the top four teams compete for a package of G$2M.