All-round benefits to be derived from U13 League

The Tiger Rentals Guyana Inc’s Under-13 Development League has been touted as a catalyst for football development. Assistant Technical Director at the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Bryan Joseph, has explained just how this would be achieved.

With a price tag to $10.6M, the Tiger Rentals Guyana Inc Boys’ Under-13 Football League is expected to fill a gap that was sealed only by private organisers in the past. The age group is seen as a critical stage of youth development in the sport, and according to GFF Assistant Technical Director Bryan Joseph, it will lend to the beginning of the youngsters’ elite player requirements.
“What this affords us is the opportunity to ensure that our players are putting in the hours and get the game time that goes towards their player development plaque. Player development plaque is accepted worldwide. It basically says: to become an elite player requires about 10,000 hours of deliberate practice,” Joseph explained.
“Without tournaments at this level, we haven’t been able to make impact into those hours.”

Remaining on the topic of those involved, Joseph explained how the tournament stands to benefit players and coaches involved. Joseph elucidated, “Currently, for the past 4 or 5 years, an U13 player probably would play 2 or 3 games per year. This partnership, this tournament with Tiger Tanks, will allow the average U13 player to play 8-12 games per year.
“In addition to that, the more developed Under-13 players would play upwards of 15-20 games per year, and that is how significant that is going to be for the development of our youth players.”
On the topic of coaches’ development, the assistant TD said, “We have spent a lot of resources developing D licensed coaches, who are equipped with the right tools to be able to coach players of this age group; but we haven’t been able to provide the competitions for them to practise and develop as coaches. Now the competition is here.”
Aside from players and coaches, Joseph explained that it is the GFF’s hope that the league would birth new football clubs across the country.
“What we expect to happen from this tournament is not only the established clubs across our country being represented. We’re making the rules in such a way that any group of 14-16 boys can come together under the leadership of a coach that is qualified, that would’ve gone through the child safeguarding course and signed up to participate in this tournament.
“What that also allows is the chance to develop brand new clubs,” Joseph highlighted, while mentioning the possibility of participation from school and community teams.
The Tiger Rentals Guyana Inc League is set for a July start date. (Jemima Holmes)