2nd Women’s Division 1 League to see competition from Elite League Clubs

…historic $1M grand prize up for grabs

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) will, for the next few months, undertake the second edition of the Women’s Division 1 League, tentatively slated to kick off on August 1 which will see numerous changes this time around.
The upcoming tournament was launched on Wednesday morning at the GFF’s Campbelville, Georgetown Headquarters.
Foremost of those adjustments will be the switch to having the nation’s female footballers compete under the country’s 10 male elite league clubs, namely, the Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Police Force, Slingerz, Western Tigers, Santos, Fruta Conquerors, Den Amstel, Monedderlust, Ann’s Grove United and Lake Mainstay Gold Stars Football Clubs.
However, in order to facilitate this change, the GFF will be facilitating both a loan and a draft system in order to ensure each team’s 15-member quad is filled.
“For this tournament, we are going to have, for the very first time, a loan system in place which would allow clubs like the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force to loan players out to other Elite League clubs. The idea here is that, by the end of the tournament, we’re hoping the other Elite League clubs who don’t have an active women’s programme would’ve been inspired by what has taken place in the league itself.” GFF Technical Director Bryan Joseph told those gathered for the launch.

He further added, “To further foster that, we are opening up this league to every female player in the country, so we will be conducting an open draft. All players anywhere in the country will have an opportunity to register for the draft. So, players from anywhere across the nation can be registered to participate in the league. Like we said, we want to have the best local talent to be a part of the league.”
“I just want to reiterate again the importance of this in ensuring our Elite League clubs are meeting the domestic club licence requirements.”
The GFF’s technical director went on to share several reasons behind hosting the league and instituting changes.
“Our main focus in terms of getting this league up and running – obviously this is directly connected to the CONCACAF W Qualifiers and Championship, which is scheduled for later in the year, I think it’s October and November, which would also serve as qualifiers for the 2027 Women’s World Cup to be held in Brazil. As it stands, our local girls in the competitions that we’ve done in its current format make it difficult for our local girls to have the level of exposure and competition that they deserve to prepare for the international level,” Joseph related to media operatives on Wednesday morning.
Eagerly anticipating the four-month tournament is Women’s Football Association President Andrea Johnson, who gave some insight into the tournament’s increased prize structure.
The WFA President said about the league, “This expansion is not just historic in scope; it is deeply symbolic of opportunity, of progress and of belief. More girls will have the chance to play more matches in a competitive, structured environment.”
She went on to divulge, “I must say that this is the first time that we’re going to have our first prize at one million dollars. So, for the league, the first prize is one million, the second prize is $500,000, the third prize is $300,000, and the fourth is $100,000. And of course, we have trophies and medals.”
In addition, the Cup phase of the tournament will see the first-place finisher walking away with $300,000, the second with $200,000, the third with $100,000 and the fourth place with $50,000.
“I must also say that each club will be given a training grant of $100,000. So, the total amount of prize pay-out that we have for this league will be three million, seven hundred and sixty-four thousand dollars,” Johnson went on to add.
When quizzed about funding for the competition, GFF 3rd Vice President Dion Inniss, in a call for added corporate support, divulged that FIFA will be footing the in excess of 9 million bill.
“The tournament, ostensibly at this point, is being funded by our parent body, FIFA, to the tune of $9.5 million.  It’s not too late for the corporate community to step forward to assist because what will happen is that those funds can go towards other developmental programmes such as coaching and referees’ programmes to get more females involved. So, the more corporate support we get, I believe, can help,” Inniss responded to enquiries.
The second edition of the Women’s Division 1 League will have a single-round format, which will also be followed by a Knockout Cup competition.
The games will not take up the entirety of the full-sized pitch, with 9v9 games on Wednesdays and Fridays of every week. Additionally, some 56 games are scheduled to be played across the 4-month competition.