The 12th edition of the Courts Optical Pee Wee Football Championship, 10 of which have been contested at the school level, was originally launched yesterday at the entity’s Main Street headquarters in Georgetown.
The 32-team event will commence on September 23rd. The grand finale will be on October 28th. All matches will be held at the Ministry of Education Ground, Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown. The teams will be divided into eight groups of four, and the top two finishers from each section will advance to the elimination round. The respective losers in the knockout section will progress to the plate division to battle for positions 5–16. Although the list of schools is yet to be finalized, the possible competing teams, which will emanate from Georgetown, Region #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, and #10, are: Amelia’s Ward, Ann’s Grove, Beterverwagting, Craig, Den Amstel, defending champion Enterprise, F.E. Pollard, Genesis, Grahams Hall, J.E. Burnham, Marian Academy, North Georgetown, One Mile, Potaro, Redeemer, School of the Nations, Smith’s Memorial, Soesdyke, Sophia, South Ruimveldt, St. Agnes, St. Ambrose, St. Angela’s, St. Margaret’s, St. Pius, St. Stephen’s, Timehri, Tucville, Victoria, Westminster, West Ruimveldt, and Winfer Gardens. The final list will be announced shortly.
The winner of the tournament will receive the championship trophy, gold medals, and a pair of uniforms. Each player will also be presented with an electronic tablet. The runners-up will collect a trophy, silver medals, and six balls. The third-place finisher will pocket a trophy and four balls, while the fourth-place side will walk away with a trophy.
On the individual side, a trophy and a pair of football cleats will be presented to the eventual most valuable player, highest goal scorer, and best goalkeeper.
Troy Mendonca, Co-Director of the Petra Organization, stated that it’s a great accomplishment for the event to achieve a milestone of 10 editions at the school strata, noting that the company should be applauded for their continued support of the tournament, which forms a significant part of their corporate social responsibility.
According to Mendonca, the late duo of Dr. Olato Sam and Ingrid King, both important figures at the Ministry of Education, should also be commended for the pivotal role they played in the continued staging of the championship, adding that the competition has played a major role in creating an initial pathway for player identification, which has resulted in several individuals graduating to the national program at every conceivable level and gender. Similarly, Richard Simpson, Courts Optical Chain Manager, stated that the company is pleased to be associated with the tournament, noting that 10 years of relevance and continuity is a tremendous achievement, which highlights that there is a bright future for the championship. He stated that the company is committed to the evolution of the event and that the partnership with the Petra Organization, a group that is regarded for its emphasis on youth development, aligns perfectly with the company’s social objectives. According to Simpson, the company will be offering free eye examinations to students of the respective schools, which is indicative of the company’s aim to develop the youth population across every community and area of Guyana. Meanwhile, Nicholas Fraser, Head of Allied Arts at the Ministry of Education, said that the tournament should be commended for achieving the significant milestone of 10 years at the school level, which is not an easy feat, noting that the event has evolved into one of the local marquee tournaments that is anticipated by the players and general populace on an annual basis.
He stated that the Ministry of Education will continue to work with the Petra Organization to supplement the strengths of the competition as well as improve and eradicate the observed weaknesses, adding that logistical support will be provided by the Ministry given the expansion of the event.
On the other hand, GFF Technical Director Brian Joseph posited that the federation will always support the initiatives of the Petra Organization, as they align with its vision for the development of grassroots football, adding that the event correlates with the local governing body’s objective in the expansion of the discipline at the school level. Also, Christel Van Sluytman, Senior Brand Manager of Courts Guyana, stated that the event is a platform for the athletes to express and realize their dreams, noting that praise should be afforded to all the respective stakeholders who have played a pivotal part in making the event a success and a national household name.
