With the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) set to commence their 10-team first-division league on Sunday at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) ground, the Guyana Football Federation has officially donated one million dollars towards the staging of the event.
The teams that will be participating in the event are Amelia’s Ward Panthers, Milerock, Net Rockers, Silver Shattas, Hi-Stars, Botofago, Winners Connection, Topp XX, Eagles United and Blue Berry Hill United.
Due to the shortage of funding, the winner of the event will pocket 40 percent of the overall gate revenue while the second and third-placed finishers will receive 20 and 10 percent of the revenue respectively.
Five percent will then go to the UDFA while the remaining 25 percent will be divided among the other participants. Similarly, the UDFA will stage an u-17 league to run simultaneously with the senior championship.
According to an official press release from the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) “It was an initiative of the Normalisation Committee, after Chairman Clinton Urling had visited the community to oversee the election of their Executive headed by former Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon.
“After handing over a quantity of balls to the UDFA, Urling had told the clubs that gathered at the LEN Building on October 1, that the GFF will also be giving financial assistance to the sum of $1M,” the release stated.
According to Urling, “Linden has not had any significant football competitions being played in 2015 as a result of administrative issues with the UDFA, so the GFF is delighted to see the return of football in the region,” the release stated.
The release added that the Normalisation Committee welcomed the initiative of the new executive of the UDFA to stage a league that will ensure consistent and sustainable football is played in the region.
Urling also said that the Normalisation Committee was committed to supporting the GFF’s member associations with financial support for competitions once detailed proposals are submitted.
“We must compliment the UDFA executives for the robustness of their plans and timeliness of submission of their plans for the league,” said Urling.
In an invited comment, Solomon said the staging of the tournament was a step in the right direction.
“We want to personally thank the Normalisation Committee and the GFF for lending a hand,” said Solomon.
“What we’re happy about is that the clubs understand the position we’re in with regards to getting sponsorship and funding, so they have agreed to use the gates as payments,” Solomon declared.
