– Tournament kicks off Sunday with 10 teams; 49 matches
Two little known clubs have been named to compete in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) inaugural National Super League tournament which kicks off this weekend at the National Stadium at Providence.
Seawall Football Club of West Demerara and Liquid Gold of Berbice were named in a 10-team line up announced at the official Launch of the League last Sunday at Pegasus Hotel.
Heading the list of teams is heavyweight Alpha “The Hammer” United – three-time Georgetown League champions.
Also representing George-town will be Sunburst Camptown and the Guyana Defence Force while Upper Demerara top clubs Milerock and Bakewell Topp XX are also in the line-up.
East Coast giants Victoria Kings and Buxton United along with Rosignol United of Berbice complete the line up.
The tournament will kick off with new kids on the block Liquid Gold squaring off with Rosignol United on Sunday at the National Stadium starting at 18:00 hours.
Forty nine matches will be played in the one-round tournament which will climax with the final at the Stadium on November 11th according to the fixtures.
Matches will also be played at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground in Linden, Camp Ayanganna, Uitvlugt in West Demerara, Georgetown Football Club or GCC, Bartica Community Centre ground, Blairmont in West Berbice and Plaisance on the East Coast of Demerara.
The tournament is an initiative of FIFA, the world body governing football and CONCACAF as part of its “Win in CONCACAF with CONCACAF!” Development Programme.
GFF President Colin Klass in giving a brief overview of the tournament said the “Win in CONCACAF with CONCACAF!” started in Africa a few years ago to harness the talent of footballers in that continent.
He said the Austin “Jack” Warner CONCACAF president and FIFA vice president approach the world body to introduce a similar programme in this region especially for teams in the Caribbean and the dream has now been realized.
“Thanks to Warner, FIFA and CONCACAF for the realization of having a National League which could develop into a Professional League,” Klass disclosed.
He said that there was much talk about who should be selected for the league but one of the aims of the tournament is to ensure that a nursery is incorporated to fuel the development of the senior department of clubs.
According to Klass, the champions and runners-up will be eligible to represent Guyana at international tournaments including the World Cup championships.
He noted that there will also be competition at the Under-13, Under-15 and Women’s that will run simultaneously as part of the historic League.
FIFA has contributed $150,000 (US) for the start up of the League for a two-year period but Klass said that the GFF will be looking for local corporate support to ensure the league is sustained.
Also present at the launch were FIFA Development Officer veteran football administrator Harold Taylor who deputized for Warner, Chairman of the Private Sector Commission Captain Gerry Gouveia who called on private sector involvement for the competition.
According to Gouveia sport ignites patriotism adding that it is an important component of promoting tourism.
“Sport is not a game it is part of national life, as head of Roraima Group and Private Sector Commission we are committed to working with you” he assured football administrators and invitees.
