Georgetown Football Association (GFA) President Otis James has confirmed that the entity’s pre-season championship, which is in partnership with the West Demerara Football Association, will commence this Sunday at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground in Bourda.
This was disclosed during an exclusive interview with Stabroek Sport yesterday. According to James, “I’m trying to get every team to play at least 10 matches in the next six weeks. In this tournament, the teams are playing for a trophy despite it being pre-season, so whoever wins the most matches will be crowned the pre-season winner. We will be playing matches at the National Track and Field Centre in Leonora and GFC for now. It is expected to be expanded to other venues. The West Demerara leg starts next Sunday.”
He further said, “All the teams will be participating in the league; this event will enhance the league and give them adequate time for preparation. If you can’t participate in the pre-season, then you shouldn’t participate in the actual league. We teamed up with West Demerara, and this is a programme between us where we will play each other in such instances and exchange matches throughout the league. This will happen in youth tournaments, especially.”
In the opening match at 15:00hrs, Pele will lock horns with Black Pearl, while the feature match will pit hosts GFC against Eastveldt at 17:00hrs. In the final fixture, Santos will face off against the league champion Beacons at 19:00hrs.
According to James, the actual league is projected to commence on March 31st and will utilise a two-round format, adding that besides the staging of a competitive senior league, the primary focus of the association in 2024 will be youth football.
He expounded, “I want to start the season in March; the last Sunday in March is projected, and it is expected to be a two-round league. Our focus is to enhance the development of the sport in Georgetown and create the necessary structures that would lead us to a better road to gaining access facilities and funding. More youth football in all divisions we are targeting; our league is very young, so we might not have much at the U20 level, but more U17 down to U11; we will only have one at the U20 but multiple at the lower age ranges, inclusive of U13, U15, girls, and women.”
Fixtures: January 14, 2024
15:00hrs: Pele vs. Black Pearl
17:00hrs: GFC vs. Eastveldt
19:00hrs: Santos vs. Beacons
