Tucville Secondary devour QC 10 – 2
The inaugural ScotiaBank/ Pepsi Schools Football Tournament officially kicked off yesterday with the opening ceremony and curtain-raiser match between Queen’s College and Tuvcille at the Carifesta Sports Complex Ground.
The opening ceremony which had the march past of the participating schools was attended by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony, Scotia Bank’s Marketing Manager Jennifer Cipriani, Pepsi Brand Manager Marlon Gravesande and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education (MOE) Pulandar Kandhi, and they all made brief remarks.
Guest speaker Dr Anthony said that this was a programme that was long overdue because they would like to see football being played in every primary and secondary school throughout Guyana.
He said “there were a lot of barriers that kept programmes as such from being up and running but we are pleased that we were able to pilot this programme in Georgetown so that we can move to other regions throughout Guyana.”
Dr Anthony also noted that a lot can be learned from the programme, not only for the students but for the teachers. “They can learn how to officiate a match-up, they can learn how to train and manage a team.”
Finally, the minister commended the organizers, ScotiaBank, Pepsi and the numerous other entities that helped to make the tournament a success and he further wished them success in their endeavours.
Kandhi made his remarks on behalf of Minister of Education Shaik Baksh who could not be present. Kandhi said that their ministry is trying to get as much sport into the school system as possible and to knit that into the curriculum.
“This was just another way of getting the students’ minds active since as you know a healthy body makes a healthy mind.
Numerous sport personalities go on to be well round individuals because they had a good balance of both academics and sports,” Kandhi observed.
The permanent secretary concluded his comments by extending his gratitude to the general public, sponsors and organizers who have made the tournament possible.
Representatives of the two major sponsors, ScotiaBank and Pepsi expressed satisfaction that their companies are associated with the beneficial tournament and they are hoping that what the students would have learnt throughout the period would help them not only in sport but in their everyday life.
Following the remarks of the special invitees, Tucville Secondary School devoured Queen’s College 10 – 2 in their battle.
Meanwhile, the schools involved in the tournament include Christ Church, East Ruimveldt Secondary, Lodge Secondary, North Georgetown, Queen’s College, Tucville Secondary, Tutorial High Scool and St George’s High School, and they all received equipment provided by the main sponsors which outfitted them for the tourney.
The equipment included uniforms, shin guards, whistles, cones, ball pumps, goalkeeping gear and coaches boards.
