Local telecommunication giant Guyana Telephone & Telegraph (GT&T) Company and the Guyana Football Referees Council (GFRC) inked a multi-million sponsorship deal that will see local referees being fully outfitted at matches.
At the signing ceremony last Thursday at GT&T Canteen, the company’s Chief Executive Officer Yog Mahadeo, said that the agreement will help to foster closer partnership with the GFRC and by extension football locally.
“What we have tried to do is to ensure that we are building such partnerships where we can help to build and make professional sport become better. We are helping to build professional sport from the grass roots level where we are trying to build those village teams, giving youths in those villages a chance to dream and to make that dream reality,” said Mahadeo.
He noted the agreement which will be for an initial one-year period, will in no way affect the professional conduct of the referees.
“We have seen the excellence and professionalism of you guys and we are proud to be associated with you in a formal way now,” Mahadeo added.
The agreement has been endorsed by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and President Colin Klass who attended the signing ceremony complimented GT&T and its CEO for partnering with the GFRC noting that football was one of the best vehicles for advertising any product. “The GFF will continue to give support to GT&T and I dare say that we will not let you go as you have been fulfilling your corporate duties to us and by extension, this country of ours. I hope this is an everlasting partnership,” Klass said. The sponsorship will see GT&T providing branded Referee kit, training uniforms, track suits, electronic boards and casual wear and other benefits.
GFRC Vice President Dion Inniss in brief remarks said that his body was heartened to secure support from GT&T after pursuing several corporate entities for over two years.
Inniss noted that only Jamaica in this hemisphere had landed a similar sponsorship and he applauded GT&T for linking with the GFRC.
GFRC Secretary Troy Peters said the deal was historic and a landmark agreement that will benefit referees not only on the field of play but will also impact on their lives in a major way.
Also present at the signing were Aubrey “Shanghai” Major, Organising Secretary of the GFF and GT&T’s Chief Finance Officer Royston Rachpaul.
