Scotia Bank and Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) have collaborated as major sponsors for the School Football Academy, launched yesterday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
In addition to the major sponsors, the programme is being launched in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, the Guyana Sports Development Foundation (GSDF) and the Guyana Football Federation.
This programme is designed to align sports and academics with the ultimate goal of producing well rounded individuals. It will cater for boys and girls ages 10-15 who are attending secondary schools in Georgetown.
GSDF representative and Executive Director, Colin Baker, giving an outline of the programme at yesterday’s launching, said that, “the programme will place a very strong emphasis on discipline resulting in the reduction of some of the social issues currently experienced in society.”
He added that scholarship opportunities in overseas colleges and universities will be created for students since during the programme college coaches will visit Guyana to do training and seminars with students and coaches.
“This programme definitely has the potential to create a positive impact on the future of Guyana’s football and once successful will be expanded countrywide,” said Baker.
“The plan is to have national coaches from the GFF and Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, as well as foreign-based coaches work along with the PE teachers during the duration of the programme,” he added.
This programme will be administered by a committee comprising representatives from the various stakeholders and will be run over a five-month period with a tournament between the participating schools during the last two months.
The programme will span a five-year period and the first year will see 10 participating schools selected by the Ministry of Education.
The schools selected are: St. Joseph’s High School, Queen’s College, Tutorial High School, North Ruimveldt Secondary School, North Georgetown Secondary School, Saint Stanislaus College, East Ruimveldt Secondary School, Christ Church Secondary School, Tucville Secondary School and St. Rose’s High School.
Baker related that some of the schools listed are still seeking sponsorship and he appealed to corporate Guyana to commit to a school “so that the children of Guyana can be afforded the opportunity to participate.”
Director of Sports, Neil Kumar, who was also present at the launching, said the programme is a “good gesture” and gave his assurance that the programme will get the support of the Sport Ministry.
Representative of Scotia Bank Jennifer Cipriani-Nelson stated that her company is pleased to be a sponsor of the programme.
She noted that Scotia Bank has been mostly involved in the sponsorship of cricket but they have decided to extend their sponsorship to football.
“We [Scotia Bank] got involved because we think sport has a positive role to play in the lives of young children,” said Nelson.
Representing the programme’s other major sponsor, DDL, Marlon Gravesande stated that the training and moulding that the programme will offer will not only develop football at the school level, but also at the national level as well.
