In a groundbreaking development for the nation’s youth footballers the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has joined with the National Milling Company (NAMILCO) to stage a countrywide U17 football tournament which will last for approximately one year.
The Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 Intra-Association Football League was launched last week at the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School.
The event, which is expected to commence on Saturday by nine members of the GFF, will run until June 2017 with a break penciled in for the traditional Christmas period of November to December 2016.
The associations that will compete in the tournament are Bartica Football Association (BFA), Berbice Football Association
(BFA), East Demerara Football Association (EDFA), East Bank Football Association (EBFA), Essequibo Coast/Pomeroon Football Association, Georgetown Football Association (GFA), Rupununi Football Association (RFA), Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) and the West Demerara Football Association.
“It’s not just about football, it is about taking care of a child which can one day be the source of pride for our nation,” was President of the GFF Wayne Forde’s take while NAMILCO’s Financial Consultant, Fitzroy McLeod, said:“NAMILCO has been very supportive towards sporting activities and we continue to contribute to education institutions.
“We believe this tournament can be a landmark in Guyana and expect that this tournament will serve as the basis for unrivaled national effort in the identification and enhancement of football talent in this critical age group,” he added.
The National Milling Company of Guyana (NAMILCO) will be the exclusive sponsors of the tournament.