![Petra Organization Co-Director Troy Mendonca receiving the sponsorship cheque from Nestle Beepat Brand Manager Shellona David following the launch of the 7th Milo Secondary Schools Football Championship. Also in the photo are GFF Youth Development Officer Bryan Joseph [left] and Petra Organization members Jacklyn Boodie and Sean Embrack](https://s1.stabroeknews.com/images/2019/01/milo31.jpg)
The 7th edition of the Milo Secondary School Football Championships was officially launched yesterday at the Beepat Headquarters, Dennis Street.
The tourney which is set to commence February 9th at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue, will feature 24 teams divided into six groups of four.
Unlike the previous editions, three-time winner Chase Academy, along with Morgan Learning Center, Masters Academy and Sir Leon Lessons will not feature.
Among the teams down to compete in this edition are the champion sides from Linden, West Demerara, East Coast Demerara, Berbice and the East Bank of Demerara. The East Coast of Demerara will have two representatives. Upon the conclusion of the group stage, the top two finishers in each pool, along with the best four third placed teams, will advance to the elimination round. The competition is set to conclude on April 14th.
Winner of the competition will receive $500,000 towards a school project and the championship trophy. Similarly, the second, third and fourth-placed sides, will pocket $300,000, $200,000 and $100,000 respectively towards a school initiative and a trophy.
Co-Director of the Petra Organization Troy Mendonca declared that the company should be lauded for their continued contribution to the youth football landscape, affirming that the event has played its role in creating the avenue for players to develop their talents.
According to Mendonca, the event has provided the avenue for the resuscitation of football at the school level and can be viewed as a vehicle of development in several areas including coaching development and talent identification. Mendonca disclosed that the reason for several of the popular institutions not featuring was due to the difference in philosophy between the promotional entity and the schools.
He explained, “There are some popular institutions that over the years would participate in the tournament and what we as the organizations want to achieve is a wider cross-section of schools being readily and motivated to participate and what some of these institutions are doing is not in-keeping with our philosophy.
“I want to congratulate Chase [Academy] for the investment they would have made over the years in terms of bringing the best players available in the school system into a system. For me I don’t see the benefit to the players and the institution if they are just going to participate in school football. I personally would suggest that Chase register as a club and I think as an institution you would see more benefits,” he added.
Shellona David, Brand Manager of Nestle Beepat said that the tournament reflects what the product stands for which is an active lifestyle, adding that the company is pleased to sponsor the event as many individuals look forward to it. Meanwhile, Bryan Joseph, Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Youth Development Officer praised the company for its continued commitment to the development of sports, adding that the partnership between the Petra Organization and
According to Joseph, the initiative will be utilized for the monitoring of players for possible national team honours in the future, declaring that the event aligns with the GFF’s attempt to foster and create elite players through consistent playing for the national grid.
