Blue Water Shipping U15… Annai edge Marian to secure back-to-back titles

Annai Secondary’s Girls successfully defended their Blue Water Shipping Girls Under-15 National Championship title on Sunday, defeating Marian Academy 2-1 in an exciting final at the National Training Centre (NTC), Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD) to once again be crowned national champions.
The Region Nine champions capped another outstanding campaign by retaining the title they won in 2025, reaffirming their status as the country’s leading girls’ U15 secondary school football team. Annai entered the National Final Eight after successfully emerging from the Region Nine qualifiers, edging rivals St Ignatius Secondary on goal difference to secure their return to the national stage.
Marian Academy, representing Georgetown North, produced another impressive tournament run to book a second consecutive appearance in the national final against Annai. The Georgetown side displayed quality and consistency throughout the championship ,but ultimately fell just short yet again against a disciplined Annai outfit.

The third-place play-off saw Waramuri Secondary overcome President’s College in a penalty shootout following a closely-contested encounter to secure the bronze medal.
In the remaining placement matches, The New Central High School claimed fifth place ahead of first-time national finalists Mahdia Secondary, whose participation was sponsored by the Rights of the Child Commission, while Wauna Primary defeated Abram Zuil Secondary to finish seventh overall.
Marian Academy’s Kaleigh Todd was determined to be the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) while her teammate, Skylar DeNobrega, was the highest goalscorer with 13 goals across the tournament. On the other hand, Annai Secondary’s Kesia Edward was the competition’s best goalkeeper.
Addressing the players during the presentation ceremony, Senior Vice President of Sales & Development at Blue Water Shipping, Richard DeNobrega, commended the standard of football displayed throughout the tournament while encouraging the young athletes to continue pursuing the sport.
“The future is indeed bright, and the future is in every one of you young ladies that participated in this tournament. While there will always be a winner and a loser, today we have 1600 winners who are champions of football for Guyana. You are witnessing members of the Guyana National Team, who will be a part of future World Cups,” DeNobrega shared.

Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President Wayne Forde highlighted the continued growth of the competition and its impact on the development of girls’ football across the country.
Forde expressed, “The long-term goal is to have all secondary schools from every corner of Guyana participate in this exciting competition. With the steady growth we are witnessing, I am confident that we will achieve this in the very near future. The objectives of this competition are to create access, increase participation, promote development and discover talent – and we have achieved these objectives. We are making meaningful progress in the development of female football, and with two dedicated girls’ academies on the horizon, I am confident that our female national teams will continue to produce strong results on the regional and international stage.
“Congratulations to Annai Secondary for winning this year’s competition, and congratulations to every young player who competed with passion, discipline, and pure joy. You created many memorable moments that served as a source of encouragement for the hardworking team that made this championship possible. I wish you all the very best on your football journey.”
Meanwhile, Guyana Women’s Football Association President Andre Johnson also commended the players and participating schools while reaffirming the Federation’s commitment to expanding opportunities for young female footballers across Guyana.
“We have witnessed not just games, but a display of passion, determination, teamwork and sportsmanship. Each match has brought its own excitement and challenges, and every player has shown immense growth and spirit. The Guyana Football Federation is committed to the continued development of women’s football, with a number of programmes set to be unveiled shortly at the secondary school level.”
The 2026 Blue Water Shipping Girls U15 National Championship marked another milestone in the competition’s continued growth. Over seven weeks, a record 80 schools participated, an increase from 68 schools in 2025, with each school registering teams of up to 20 players, resulting in approximately 1600 girls taking part in this year’s championship.
A total of 111 matches were contested, producing 205 goals across more than 13 communities throughout Guyana. For the first time, regional qualifying matches were hosted in Kabakaburi, Tapakuma, Aishalton, Katoka, and Nappi, further extending the competition’s reach into communities across the country.
The National Final Eight brought together the top-performing schools from across Guyana following regional qualifying tournaments staged nationwide. Over two days of competition, the country’s most promising young female footballers showcased their technical ability, tactical awareness, determination, and sportsmanship while competing for national honours.
This year’s championship featured schools representing Regions Two, Three, Four, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine and Ten, highlighting the continued expansion, competitiveness and growing reach of girls’ football across Guyana.
The GFF extended its sincere congratulations to all participating schools, players, coaches, teachers, match officials, volunteers, parents, medical personnel and supporters, whose commitment and dedication contributed to another successful edition of the Blue Water Shipping Girls’ U15 National Championship.