Blue Water Girls U15 Development League set for 2024
The Blue Water U15 Development League will be run as a national tournament next year
The Blue Water Girls’ Under-15 Development League will be run as a national tournament in 2024, providing a competitive platform for budding talents to exhibit their skills and contend for potential positions within the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF’s) national team programme.
This announcement was made during a friendly match between Georgetown’s Tucville Secondary School and Bartica’s Potaro Strikers to celebrate Blue Water Shipping’s acquisition of the naming rights for the GFF Durban Park Stadium, located in the heart of Georgetown.
The football community has warmly welcomed news of the stadium, after its announcement on December 8 by the GFF and Blue Water Shipping.
A look at what to expect when the national tournament kicks off next year
The state-of-the-art, multi-million-dollar facility will have a seating capacity of 10,400; a main pitch, mini pitches for grassroots programmes, and office space for the federation. It will be completed in four years.
Blue Water Shipping’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Development, Richard DeNobrega, has affirmed his company’s dedication to nurturing youth talent, and has emphasised that the stadium would play a pivotal role in the nationwide growth of football.
“At Blue Water Shipping, we are always happy to contribute in a meaningful way to sport development. This further development of our partnership with the GFF…allows us to build on our existing commitment to the U15 Girls League with the construction of the Blue Water Shipping Stadium. Our vision is that the continued development of talent is boosted, and youths from all across Guyana are given the opportunity to benefit from a facility that promotes their growth. This is something we should all be proud of,” DeNobrega has said.
In May 2022, the GFF and Blue Water Shipping collaboratively launched the first girls’ league, aimed at nurturing young female footballers across Guyana. Now the league will mirror the recently concluded Namilco Thunderbolt Flour Power U17 National Academy Playoff.
GFF President Wayne Forde highlighted that the Guyanese football community has plenty to celebrate, thanks to the extended partnership with Blue Water Shipping.
“Thank you to Blue Water Shipping for supporting the GFF’s football infrastructure goal. This is another significant step toward achieving our state-of-the-art stadium, given the green light by Concacaf and FIFA, within the coming four years. The Blue Water Shipping Stadium is poised to become the official home of football,” Forde has said.
Further, Forde highlighted that the 2024 launch of the Blue Water Girls’ U15 Development League shows the company’s resolute commitment to fostering the growth of talented girls across Guyana.
“GFF’s focus on grassroots initiatives is crucial to our strategic plan to ensure the sustainable advancement of football. This initiative’s rollout in 2024 promises positive engagement from participating schools,” he said.
