12 footballers to benefit from BACIF training in 2022

By Jemima Holmes

With the compliments of Guyana’s most outstanding foundry – the Brass, Aluminum and Cast Iron Foundry (BACIF) of West Ruimveldt Industrial Area in Georgetown – 12 local footballers will have the opportunity of a lifetime to learn a viable skill that can gain them meaningful employment for the rest of their lives.
This announcement was made on Tuesday morning by BACIF General Manager Peter Pompey during the ceremonial handing over of the exquisite Championship Trophy made by BACIF for use in the Men’s Super-16 year-end tournament.
According to Pompey, the apprentice training programme would last for approximately 12-18 months, and would be offered to footballers from across the country.

“BACIF is an engineering manufacturing company in existence for 60 years; and, Mr. Forde, this morning I take pleasure in confirming to you that BACIF is willing to accept, in 2022, 12 young persons as trainees on programmes that can see their development in the area of the various skills that we’re involved in here,” Pompey announced at the company’s office.
“We have to look at development of football and our young people in totality, and it is within that realm that BACIF would like to offer 12 young persons from across the various regions in Guyana the opportunity to come to this organisation and, over 12-18 months, be trained in a lifelong skill that can really substantially contribute to their wellbeing and their future development,” Pompey offered.
Highlighting that it is important for the Federation to ensure a proper transition from football to a productive life for players, GFF President Wayne Forde noted that it is transformative to have such a programme for players.
“To have 12 footballers – I take it we will have males and females – participating in 1 year to 18 months’ trainee scholarship here at the Brass, Aluminum and Cast Iron Foundry, learning very important skills that they will be using for the rest of their lives in an ever-demanding construction and engineering sector in Guyana, is historic in any context,” Forde stated.
He added, “I would like to use this opportunity on behalf of the entire football fraternity, and more so our players who will be the beneficiaries of this kind gesture, to say thank you for the warmth and generosity of Brass, Aluminum and Cast Iron Foundry.”
This is the second such collaboration that the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has been able to establish this year, coming on the heels of a similar initiative with Machinery Corporation of Guyana (MACORP).
Back in July, MACORP extended a similar apprenticeship to 10 local players, both males and females, which they have since completed. The training offered courses in Excavator Operation and Technicians for the Caribbean. The first entailed theoretical pass and simulator exercise practical on the machine, while the latter was an 18-course programme that could have been completed virtually.
These opportunities are being seen as an avenue to show players that there is ‘life after football’, by equipping them with skills for meaningful employment.