With an eye on pitting some of the best school football teams in the Caribbean against Guyana’s best, the highly anticipated fourth edition of the KFC International Goodwill Series kicked off on Tuesday afternoon.
This year’s expanded competition sees participation from defending champions D.C. Caesar Fox (Waramadong) Secondary and other Guyanese teams: Chase’s Academy, Carmel, Bartica, and St. Ignatius Secondary; while Jamaica’s Clarendon College, Trinidad and Tobago’s St. Benedict’s College, and Suriname’s VMO 4 are all competing for the US$2500 grand prize.
At the official opening ceremony, held at the Queen’s College Ground in Georgetown, Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President Wayne Forde spoke about the impact of corporate sponsorship, while detailing his vision of a highly competitive tournament.
Petra Co-Director Troy Mendonca
“What is taking place here today, and what will unfold over the next couple of days, is the result of the power of partnerships. We have an array of sponsors supporting these activities, and if I can single out one who has stood out from among the crowd over the past couple of years, that is our good friend KFC. There is almost no football activity that is taking place in this country that that brand is not represented, and I believe that is a fundamental statement in their interest in the development of young people,” Forde remarked.
The GFF President added, “I hope that we will see a highly intense, competitive tournament each and every game. This is an opportunity for us to have a clear measurement as to where we stand, as compared to these boys who are at your own age level.”
KFC’s Marketing Manager Pamella Manasseh (on ball) did the customary kickoff
Troy Mendonca, Co-Director of the organizing body Petra, gave some encouraging words to the players when he alluded to the tournament’s growth thus far, and its future potential. “To be standing here and see you players out there, it places a special emphasis on what we want to do and what we want to achieve; and I can say to you (that), hopefully, in the next couple of years, we can look back, reflect on this tournament, and say that you were a part of history,” he posited.
“Having said that, I just want to urge everyone to put your best foot forward in delivering this, the fourth edition of the KFC Goodwill tournament. We can only do it together,” Mendonca added.
When the first whistle was sounded, Chase’s Academy put on a show in the first game. Bryan Wharton began his campaign for the highest goal scorer’s accolade by netting 4 goals in his team’s 5-2 victory over St. Ignatius Secondary. Omar Sam added the fifth goal for Chase.
The tournament continued with three more games on Tuesday, the details of which will be published in a subsequent issue of Guyana Times Sport. Meanwhile, Round 2 of the group stage will be played on Thursday, December 14.
The teams are vying for a grand prize of Gy$500,000 (US$2500); while those placing second, third and fourth would pocket Gy$300,000 (US$1500); Gy$200,000 (US$1000) and Gy$100,000 (US$500) respectively in a first for the competition.
