Digicel’s School Football Championships kicks-off on June 12

‒ more than 160 schools expected to participate

By Akeem Greene

Football is a talent developed through feeding a passion that has become a way of life for youth, the future Guyana stars”. Those were the words of Digicel’s Head of Marketing Jacqueline James while speaking at the launching of the seventh

Digicel’s Head of Marketing Jacquline James

edition of the Digicel’s Schools Football Championship at the West Demerara Secondary School on Wednesday.

The tournament is set to kick-off on June 12, lasting for approximately six weeks, with the final set for July 30 at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora, West Coast Demerara.

It will continue under its theme “Unite.Develop.Excel” which it has carried since its inception in 2011; a theme which James expounded.

“Unite: Bring families, friends and communities; Develop: Develop the talent of our youth through their passion of their favourites sporting activity and Excel: Putting their best foot forward in seeking to realise their dreams in becoming a member of

The future! Some players display the new uniforms (Carl Crocker photos)

the Guyana Golden Jaguars team and ultimately even reaching higher heights,” James explained.

Given the fact that the tournament continues to grow exponentially, James is advocating for more community-based support as the company will be rewarding those who showcase unwavering zeal at matches.

Additionally, Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) Third Vice President Thandi McAllister noted that the tournament meshes with their plan in spreading the sport given the fact that they will be giving technical support.

“This investment is reaching the young footballers at the most critical state of their development and it indeed compliments the GFF formula to grow the game; this formula as outlined in our five-year strategic plan- finding our focus entails in more people playing in more places more often; designing more positive interactions around football and exposing more young people to the sport at an earlier age”.

More so, Technical Director of the Education Ministry, Dr Wasir Mohammed,

Testing it out! One player tries to showcase his skill

highlighted children must be allowed to play sports, lamenting the fact that today’s academic system has overburdened the children, which has become a major concern of the Education Ministry.

Director of Sport Christopher Jones while commending Digicel for their continued support towards the development of sport revealed that Waramadong Secondary has been given lights to help better their preparation. The donation of the lights is part of the National Sports Commission’s “Light it Up campaign”.

Meanwhile, Digicel’s Head of Customer Care Sherwin Osborne was adamant that the initial aim of the tournament is now coming to fruition.

Osborne went on to elaborate that the under-18 tournament will cater for students born on or after August 1, 1999 and implored that teams submit the relevant documents to substantiate the age of their players.

“This year we will not host a game unless each player has their documents which must be submitted 24 hours before the game, we don’t want to field a team that is not eligible to play in a the tournament”.

The schools are vying for the top prize of one million dollars towards a school project of their choice, while second place finisher will play for $700,000, third $400,000 and fourth $350,000 which will go towards a school project of their choice.

The top regional winners of the straight knock-out tournament will be awarded $100,000 each.

The defending champions are Chase Academic Foundation with other Christianburg/Wismar Secondary School (2012-2015) and Government Technical Institute (2011).