The fourth ExxonMobil boy’s and girl’s U14 football competitions was launched yesterday at the Cara Lodge Hotel on Quamina Street.
The event which will feature 32 boys teams and 16 girls schools competing will be staged from May 13th – June 17th at the Ministry of Education and National Insurance Scheme grounds, Carifesta Avenue.
Participation will emanate from Regions #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, and #10.
The boys’ teams are West Ruimveldt, East Ruimveldt, North Ruimveldt, Institute of Academic Excellence, Charlestown, Dolphin, New Central, St Cuthbert’s, Friendship, Vergenoegen, Leonora, Freeburg, Brickdam, the Bishops’ High, Chase Academy, New Campbellville, Fort Wellington, Carmel, Tutorial, St Winifred, Marian Academy, Vreed-en-Hoop, Manchester, Waramuri, Patentia, President College, Cummings Lodge, Annandale, Bush Lot, Hope, Ann’s Grove, Dora, Bartica, Mackenzie High, Wismar/Christianburg, New Amsterdam, West Demerara, Canje, Woodley Park, and Charity.
The girls’ teams are West Ruimveldt, East Ruimveldt, Institute of Academic Excellence, Charlestown, New Central, Vergenoegen, New Campbellville, Carmel, Marian Academy, Waramuri, Patentia, President’s College, Cummings Lodge, Ann’s Grove, Dora, Mackenzie High, and Woodley Park.
Winner of the either division will receive $300,000 towards a school project and the championship trophy, while the second, third, and fourth place finishers will pocket $150,000, $75,000, and $50,000 respectively towards a school initiative.
On the individual side, prizes will also be awarded to the Highest Goal Scorer, Best Goalkeeper, and Most Valuable Player. Uniforms will be provided to the quarterfinalists in each section. The event is being played under the motto of a ‘Litter Free Environment’ while denouncing the ‘Violence against Teachers’ will serve as the secondary maxim. Overall, the event is sponsored for the sum of $13,900,000.
Marti De Souza, Deputy Chief Education Officer of the MOE, said a major policy of the entity is to ensure that students leave the school landscape with five competencies and that one must be the ability to participate in sports, adding that the event should be commended for its developmental nature as it focuses on both young boys and girls who are the future of the discipline.
According to De Souza, the recent success of Santa Rosa in the Milo Schools Championship is a testament to sports’ capacity to inspire a community, noting that an increase in participation of hinterland teams in future editions of the tournament should be targeted. He added that the sponsors and the coordinators should be praised for their continued emphasis and support of youth development in the schools. Meanwhile, Director of Sports Steve Ninvalle, stated that the Petra Organization continues to be the standard bearer for the development of schools football, noting that they have stood the test of time because “They have focused on an important element which is the nursery and they understand how important the nursery is because it tells what we will have in the future.”
According to Ninvalle, that sector or segment of the sports fraternity needs to be underlined and applauded, noting that the country is entering a transformational phase and exciting period for the sports landscape following the construction of several infrastructural projects.
He said that the continued expansion of the event is imperative and that the recent triumph of Santa Rosa in the just concluded Milo Schools Championship and the resulting celebrations which emanated from the community, is a perfect example of the magnifying element of sport, and that the NSC will support in making the tournament a larger developmental initiative. ExxonMobil
Community Relations Advisor Ryan Hoppie said that the continued investment in the communities is one of the entity’s social responsibilities, noting that sports play a vital role in the shaping and molding of character in youths and this platform not only develops innate talent but cultivates a sense of pride and friendship amongst the participants. He added that the initiative forms a major part of making positive contributions within the communities and that it’s a pleasure to continue to support the work of the Petra Organization. Troy Mendonca, Co-Director of the Petra Organization, said that it was a pleasure to once again secure the support of the titular sponsor ExxonMobil as well as the Ministry of Education (MOE), the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), which is testimony to the mandate of the organization to work with all the relevant stakeholders in the development of the sport.
He said that the event fills the gap that exists between the age group of 11 and 18, noting that the respective investment of the entities cannot be quantified and “is worth it”.
Bryan Joseph, Acting Technical Director of the GFF said that relationships between the corporate sector, government, and private promotional organizations, are required to take the game forward, adding the U14 age range is an important group and that the event aligns with the GFF’s developmental policy.
