The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) yesterday announced plans for the return of local football in each Regional Member Association next month.
The local authority of association football revealed that four competitions will be held during the remaining period of the official 2021/2022 season.
A senior men’s tournament, a junior boys event, a senior women’s championshi, and a junior girls tourney are penciled in to be staged.
They are the Regional Association Senior Men’s League [May 15th], GFF Women’s Development League [May 12th], NAMILCO U17 Boys League [May 21st], and The Blue Water U15 Girls Developmental League [May 15th].
GFF President Wayne Forde, said, “These competitions will be officially launched in a few days by our Regional Associations and the GFF Competition Department in collaboration with our sponsorship partners at which the details of each competition will be made available. The GFF competition team has been working closely with the Regional Association to support the planning and preparation for the Senior Male League. At the moment we have in excess of 115 clubs registered, the RFA leading with 26 Clubs and the GFA coming in second with 16 Clubs.”
He added, “In alignment with the GFF Club Charter programme, all clubs across our nine Regional Associations are being deemed “Category Three Clubs” with the exception of the 10 Elite League Clubs. Once these Regional Association Clubs complete the registration process, they receive four size 5 balls, 25 cones and 12 bibs. I am pleased to announce that more than 90% of the participating clubs have completed their registration.”
Forde noted that the entity is aiming to create history by having active leagues conducted in each of the nine regional member associations which will give more than 2500 players the opportunity to be scouted by the Golden Jaguars Scouting Team.
“In August we will be playing the GFF Champions Cup, where the respective Regional Association League Champions and the first runners up will be competing in a straight knock out tournament to be crowned the National Champion”, he added.
According to Forde, there will be no consequence with regards to relegation and promotion during the respective leagues, as the tournaments are being conducted to aid in preparation and capacity building within the respective associations ahead of the 2022/2023 season commencement in September, which will also witness the return of the Elite League.
He revealed that the Elite League clubs will return to their respective associations as a platform to acquire game time, adding, “In closing, I would like to commend my presidents for their efforts over the past weeks to organize the return of play with-in their respective jurisdiction and to assure them of my complete support in helping them to develop the game across Guyana.”
