After heavy rainfall washed out last weekend’s scheduled match-day, the business end of the ExxonMobil U14 Boys and Girls Schools Football Tournament will get underway today with the quarter-finals of both categories to be played at the Ministry of Education Ground, Carifesta Avenue.
A total of eight quarter-finals will be played, four boys and four girls as each team remaining in contention will look to book respective semi-final berths.
The reigning Boys’ champions, Bartica Secondary and the defending Girls’ Champions, Waramuri Primary Top are on course to retain their title and have looked ominous all tournament long, easily dispatching all comers. The day’s action will kick off with the Girls’ Champions, Waramuri taking on Charity Secondary at 12 pm while the Bartica Secondary boys will continue their title defence against Leonora Secondary at 1 pm.
That match will be followed by another male encounter, South Ruimveldt Secondary taking on Bushlot Secondary at 2 pm.
Meanwhile, three girls matches will follow; New Amsterdam Secondary versus the rampaging President’s College outfit at 3:30 pm, Marian Academy taking on Bartica Secondary at 4 pm and then Santa Rosa Secondary clashing with Tucville Secondary. To close off the day’s action, Chase’s Academic Foundation will face Wismar/Christianburg Secondary in the boys category while Dolphin Secondary come up against Westminster Secondary in the final match of the day. The winners of each game are guaranteed a spot in the semi-finals of the tournament. The tournament is powered by ExxonMobil while Stena Drilling, Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) through the Pepsi brand, MVP Sports, and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports are playing integral support roles. The prize money pool has also increased this year and will see both males and females earning the same amount for their respective efforts. First placed teams will earn $400,000 towards a school project of their choosing plus a corresponding trophy while the runners-up will receive $200,000, third place $100,000 and fourth place $75,000, all accompanied with respective trophies.
Both male and female MVPs (Most Valuable Players) will receive trophies, football boots and a year’s worth of educational support in the form of school supplies. Additionally there will be accolades for the Highest Goalscorer, Best Goalkeeper and the Most Disciplined Team.
