The third annual Scotiabank/Pepsi Schools football academy is set to commence today in Georgetown and Linden from 9:30hrs with Georgetown hosting the gala opening ceremony for city teams at the Ministry of Education Complex ground, Carifesta Avenue.
Berbice will kick start their academy on March 30.
Amanda St. Aubyn, Scotia bank Guyana and Caribbean Manager is expected to officially kick off the tournament in Georgetown.
Following the march past of the teams, Tucville Secondary and Lodge will clash in a female encounter while Charlestown will oppose Christ Church Secondary in a male game.
President of the Guyana Sports Development Foundation (GSDF) Colin Baker told Stabroek Sport said that he was excited about this year’s programme mainly because of the inclusion of Linden and Berbice and the number of schools entered in the tournament.
“After our third year we have expanded to Linden and Berbice and at the same time doubling the schools participating in the tournament. We now have 25 schools participating in the tournament as School of the Nations joined this week,” Baker said.
Baker said that the schools in Linden and Berbice are excited to play in the tournament and indicated that other schools have already requested to be a part of next year’s programme.
“For the first time we will have a number of boys playing organized football and also over 120 girls,” he said.
According to Baker, players will be scouted by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) to represent Guyana in various competitions including the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) U17 female World Cup Qualifier which is slated for later in the year.
The programme saw some 40 teachers being trained in the capacity of coaches while approximately 20 students have completed the Referees Course with only Linden left to complete their phase in that area.
Sponsors of the academy, Scotia bank and the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) under their Pepsi soft drink brand have each plugged $1.9M into the initiative, a total of 3.8M; by far the most money ever to be placed in school’s football.
Matches will be played every Saturday and Sunday.
Each male and female area champion of the Linden, Berbice and Georgetown playoff will play for the Scotia bank/Pepsi Championship in Georgetown at the Ministry of Education Complex Ground, Carifesta Avenue.
