General Equipment Guyana Limited (GENEQUIP) became the latest entity to support the 9th Milo Secondary Schools U18 Football Championship by donating 8 complete kits that will be utilized during the event’s Round of 16 stage.
The confirmation of this sponsorship occurred yesterday during a simple presentation ceremony held at the entity’s Plantation Houston office. The company will outfit eight schools with complete uniforms from the start of the elimination stage. Petra Organization Co-Director Troy Mendonca stated that to have the company onboard provides a massive boost and enhances the overall image of the tournament.
According to Mendonca, the entity’s primary objective was to give school football its rightful semblance of importance, adding that the company’s timely contribution has afforded the organization that capacity. “While you might not be able to measure your investment return in sales, your contribution will play a major role in the lives of many children”, Mendonca affirmed.
He further stated that several players have emerged from the competition and have progressed to the national programmes and professional club realms in North America.
Mendonca further revealed that the tournament has always been a platform to highlight a social issue and that this edition will focus on the theme of ‘Violence against Teachers’. Meanwhile, Suraj Charran, Service Manager of GENEQUIP, said the entity is proud to be affiliated with tournament, noting that the company views the platform as a means to concretize its relationship with both the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport in an effort to aid in the development of youths. According to Charran, the Petra Organization should be commended for the encompassing nature of the competition, as it affords the opportunity for schools from several regions to participate, noting that the values of discipline and teamwork, which are hallmarks of the sport, correlate with the principles of the company on youth development and diversity. “GENEQUIP is a proud sponsor of the tournament and wishes all the participating teams the best of luck”, he further said. Also, Jacklyn Boodie, Secretary of the Petra Organization, stated that the tournament will incorporate a Volunteer School Programme, which was initiated following advice from the Chief Education Officer of the Ministry of Education Saddam Hussein. She revealed that the initiative is part of an emerging Ministry of Education national plan, and that 40 students, one male and one female, will be utilized during the entirety of the tournament as members of the administration and operation staff.
The tournament which is scheduled to commence on Saturday, February 25th, will feature an astounding 48 schools, the largest ever in the tournament’s history. They will emanate from Regions #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, and #10. The event will conclude during the month of April. The competing teams are [Region 1] Santa Rosa, [Region 2] 8 of May and Cotton Field, [Region 3] Uitvlugt, Vergenoegen, Vreed-en-Hoop, Westminster, Stewartville, Patentia, and West Demerara, [Region 4], Annandale, Ann’s Grove, Golden Grove, President’s College, St. Cuthbert’s Mission, Dora, the Bishops High, Carmel, Charlestown, North Ruimveldt, Cummings Lodge, East Ruimveldt, Chase Academy, Morgan Learning Centre, Marian Academy, New Central, St Joseph, Dolphin, Tucville, Queen’s College, St Stanislaus, Lodge, West Ruimveldt, Freeburg, St Winifred, St John’s College and Queenstown, [Region 5], Bush Lot, and Bygeval, [Region 6] Berbice Educational Institute, Canje, Berbice High, New Amsterdam, and Manchester, [Region 7] Bartica and [Region 10] Wismar/Christianburg and Mackenzie High.
The winner of the event will pocket $300,000 towards a school project and the championship trophy, with the second, third, and fourth place finishers walking away with $200,000, $100,000, and $75,000 respectively for a school initiative and the corresponding accolade.
