Fruta Conquerors FC’s inaugural Massy United Insurance Company sponsored U-15 League will feature 12 Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) clubs, the Tucville unit said yesterday at the official launch held at the GFF boardroom in Section-K Campbellville.
The tournament will be staged from March 7 – April 4 at the Tucville ground. The competing teams will be divided into two groups and the top two finishers in each section will advance to the knockout round. Outside of the tourney hosts, the other participating teams are Western Tigers, Georgetown Football Club (GFC), Renaissance, Riddim Squad, Santos, Houston Stars, Beacon FC, Sunburst Camptown, Pele FC, Black Pearl FC and Order and Discipline FC.
Chairman of the GFF Normalization Committee Clinton Urling thanked the club for initiating such a progressive project, noting youth and grassroots football are its priority with regards to developing the sport. “The GFF will be 100 per cent behind the club in its quest to achieve their goals,” he said, noting that the federation aims to have organised and structured football constantly being played. Urling also thanked the sponsors for their support and wished the club success for the event.
Fruta Conquerors President Wayne Forde said the event is in keeping with the club’s focus on youth and grassroot development. The club is known for producing some of the better players locally Forde said, asserting that several of the nation’s stronger clubs currently field players that came through the establishment’s youth academy. He also thanked the sponsors for their support and hoped that close relations between them can be expanded to the entire football family.
GFF Technical Director Claude Bolton said these type of events are simply not about one individual but a collective group. “They are good people in Guyana who know the future is about youth development,” he said. Bolton was impressed with the vision displayed by the club and noted that the federation will always support such programmes once they fall within the parameters of its development plan. He further opined that league football is the best vehicle for youth development while commending the club for their continued emphasis on grassroot and youth football initiatives.
Meanwhile, Customer Service Representative of Massy United Insurance Safraz Sahid said the company recognizes the importance sport plays within the nation. While it is no stranger to sport, Sahid said the company is willing to explore additional support moving forward.
GFA Assistant Secretary/Treasurer Charmaine Wade said the GFA is very pleased with the initiative taken by the club, noting the entity is very much aware of the absence of youth football at the association level. “This is the first step in rectifying the situation and congratulations to Fruta Conquerors on behalf of the GFA for this venture,” she said.
The event will also be sponsored by Dyna’s Embroidery and Design and Milton Branford of Colours who donated one football to each of the participating clubs to aid in the tourney.
