Youth footballers under 18 years of age will showcase their skills in a Georgetown Football Association (GFA) organized competition sp-onsored by De Sinco Trading Limited.
Yesterday, at a simple ceremony held at the company’s Sheriff Street office, second vice-president of the GFA, Captain Tyrone Smith of the Guyana Defence Force, received a cheque for $500,000 for sponsorship of the upcoming tournament.
“This gesture by DeSinco Trading Limited has come at an opportune time when the GFA is looking to develop youth football in Georgetown and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for this sponsorship,” Smith stated.
He added: “We at the GFA would ensure that the tournament would be played with the firmest of discipline in mind and want to assure you that your sponsorship, which could not have come at a better time for football in Georgetown, would go a long way towards the developmental process the GFA have in mind.”
Personnel manager of DeSinco Trading Limited, Nathely Mars, expressed her company’s delight at being associated with the GFA once again.
“We at DeSinco Trading Limited have always taken the initiative to promote sports in Guyana.
“This is the ninth year we have undertaken to sponsor football of this nature and we will continue to do so in the years to come.
“We are optimistic that the DeSinco Under-18 football tournament would be a tremendous one and have no hesitation in sponsoring same.”
Meanwhile, secretary of the GFA, Marlon Cole, highlighted last year’s tournament where Andrew Murray Jnr., emerged as the Most Valuable Player.
He also outlined some details of the upcoming tournament which is expected to commence on June 14.
“Last year the tournament was played on a league basis. Such would not be done this year as it will be played on a round robin/knockout phase with 10 teams participating including defending champions Beacons,” Cole informed.
“The teams will be divided into two groups of five each with the University of Guyana (UG) and Sunburst Camptown Football Club grounds being the venues used.
“Players desirous of participating must be under 18-years-of-age or born after 1990,” he added.
Cole emphasized that copies of players’ birth certificates must be lodged with the GFA before they can participate in the tournament.
“The reason for this being done is that the GFA would like to eliminate any age discrepancies that may arise during the tournament, as we had such an occurrence during the tournament last year. We are not looking at having these players play football alone, but have them do so in an amicable manner without any problems.”
The nine other teams who will be challenging Beacons for supremacy includes last year runners-up Georgetown Football Club, B.K International Western Tigers, Alpha United, Fruta Conquerors Pele, Santos, Sunburst Camptown, Renaissance and Thomas United.
The duration of each game would be 70 minutes, whilst teams would be allowed to make five (5) changes. After the round robin stage is completed, the knockout phase will commence and the GFA are looking at completing the tournament within eight weeks from the date of commencement.
Similar to last year, the teams will be battling for trophies and cash prizes whilst individual performers including the MVP, most goal scorer, best defender and best goalkeeper will also be rewarded for their efforts.
