The third annual Milo/Petra Organization Secondary Schools under-20 football championship was officially launched yesterday at M. Beepat and Son’s Boardroom on Regent Street.
The event, which will be played initially in a group format, will feature 32 Georgetown schools competing over 17 match days at the Ministry of Education ground beginning from January 3.
Upon the conclusion of the group stage the top two sides in each group will progress to the knockout round.
Defending champs Lodge Secondary leads the participating schools which include the Bishops’ High, Brickdam Secondary, Business School, Carmel Secondary, Central High, Charlestown Secondary, Chase Academy, Christ Church, Cummings Lodge, David Rose, Dolphin Secondary, East Ruimveldt, Freeburg Secondary, St. Joseph’s High, Kingston Secondary, Mae’s Secondary, Marian Academy, Morgan Learning Institute, New Campbellville Secondary, North Georgetown, North Ruimveldt, Queen’s College, Queenstown Secondary, Richard Ishmael, School of the Nations, South Ruimveldt, St. John’s College, St. Stanislaus College, St. George’s Secondary, St. Mary’s Secondary and Tucville Secondary.
Winners of the event will pocket the championship trophy and $500,000 towards the building of any school project while the second, third and fourth placed sides will pocket $300,000, $200,000 and $100,000 respectively towards the funding of a school venture and the corresponding accolade.
On the individual side, awards will be given to the event’s most valuable player, highest goal scorer and best goalkeeper while four full scholarships to attend Chase Academy free of cost will also be up for grabs.
Chief Education Officer Olato Sam, during the feature address, said focus should be placed on creating criteria such as a minimum grade point average for competing students which will in turn build an atmosphere to produce student athletes not simply football players.
“Football and the other sports can contribute to the total educational experience,” said Sam.
“The ultimate objective is to produce well rounded student athletes that can graduate to represent us at the higher levels,” he added.
According to the Ministry of Education CEO, systems will be put in place to facilitate the student/athlete process, hinting that comprehensive changes will not occur immediately.
He thanked Milo for partnering once more with the Petra Organization in staging the third edition of the event.
“I wish the Petra Organization and Milo a successful engagement this year,” he added.
Petra Organization Co-Director Troy Mendonca said his organization was proud to stage this year’s tournament.
“Petra is proud to present the third annual Milo tournament and we are very proud because of the continued support of our sponsor M. Beepat through the Milo Brand.
“We are thankful for the support of the Ministry of Health moreso the Ministry of Education for facilitating us in every aspect in having the tournament.
“We have seen the tournament go from strength-to-strength and this year we want to encourage parents and guardians to come out and support their children,” he added.
According to Mendonca, the organization is willing to have discussions and work with the Guyana Football Federation’s Normaliza-tion Committee in creating a structured plan for the further development of players coming through the event.
He said that an academy featuring the best players can be created to extend the talent pool going forward for national honours while declaring what was needed is football education through properly structured coaching concepts.
Renita Sital, Milo Brand Representative said the company is pleased once more to be sponsoring the event while declaring parents should get involved and support the fixtures. She noted the parents should listen to what the students express about gender violence as it is a serious issue affecting society.
She further said “Milo is once again proud to sponsor the event. This game is a very interesting and the kids are very talented and we are pleased to be sponsoring. We hope this year there can be a lot of bonding and Milo is the food drink of champions”.
Henry Chase, Owner of Chase Academy said “I am have been following football for a number of years and I have been concerned at the level of football over the years”.
He noted while the football players are talented, their cognitive skills are not at the optimum level and as such, he is affording four students who are not performing within the public school system to have the opportunity to attend the school.
“The general deception is that football players do not perform, we are trying to change that perception and we are working with mentors to help” he added.
