The Brass, Aluminum and Cast Iron Foundry (BACIF) had, in 2019, created the first Men’s Super-16 Championship Trophy for the tournament to be played at that year’s end. It was a most coveted piece of metal artwork.
GFF President Wayne Forde and BACIF GM Peter Pompey flank the Super-16 Championship Trophy, while BACIF Coordinator Bretnol Bourne and GFF PR Keeran Williams display the other accolades
With the COVID-19 pandemic preventing the hosting of the tournament in 2020, BACIF has now returned alongside the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) this year to present another coveted piece of metal artwork to be used as the Championship Trophy for this exciting tournament in 2021. This time, however, BACIF has added to the exclusive marquee trophy by creating a new golden boot trophy, and has created another trophy, the purpose of which “would be revealed in good time”, according to the GFF.
This year’s Super-16 Trophies created by BACIF
Official presentation of these trophies to the GFF was done on Tuesday morning at the company’s West Ruimveldt, Georgetown office.
While highlighting the symbolism of the trophy, BACIF General Manager Peter Pompey disclosed that the trophy is made of a composite material that includes brass.
GFF President Wayne Forde
After giving a brief history of the entity’s relationship with the GFF, Pompey revealed: “We sat down, we had a discussion, we did share some ideas about what we want in terms of a trophy; and BACIF looked at, conceptualised the design, and with our ability to produce high-quality and good-quality craftsmanship, we went about making this trophy.”
Continuing, he said: “The trophy came back for refurbishing, and I’m extremely pleased this morning to be re-presenting the trophy to the GFF.”
About the trophy’s significance, Pompey added, “I think this trophy represents the epitome of football, and the value football can not only bring to our communities, but brings to our country in the context of sports tourism.”
Expressing sentiments similar to Pompey’s, GFF President Wayne Forde credited the tournament’s corporate sponsors for contributing to a positive cause. “Football requires partnership to grow,” he declared. “I think Mr. Pompey captured it well when he spoke about the value of football to our society; how football can be used as a sport to improve the wellbeing and the quality of life for young people.”
Continuing, Forde disclosed, “What we’ve seen over the past few weeks is quite a community of sponsors coming on board to invest in this tournament – to give our young people, both male and female, the opportunity to play football; to express themselves; to do something that they have deep passion and love for.”
Referring to the trophy, which because of its intricate design has taken over three weeks to be created, Forde disclosed that it has caught the eye of international football bodies. “I will say that, when one looks at this trophy, it is the manifestation of a simple idea that called upon the best skill and talent that exists in this institution to produce such a fine work of art. I will say to you that I have shared the images of this trophy with my colleagues at FIFA, CONCACAF, and at the Caribbean Football Union, and they are all amazed to learn that this trophy was produced in Guyana,” Forde disclosed.
“And I’m very confident (that), sometime in the future, someone will come knocking on the doors of BACIF to produce a trophy. I’m hoping that it doesn’t surpass our trophy, but (be) one that (can) certainly occupy international prominence in an international space,” the GFF President has said.
While the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) team are the reigning champions, they would need to win the tournament two times in a row to keep the accolade. For now, the team would receive a replica, which is said to be in the works. (Jemima Holmes)
