Countrywide secondary schools’ female football 2024: GFF/Blue Water National U15 Championships kick off on May 4

The inaugural edition of the Guyana Football Federation- Blue Water Shipping Under-15 Girls’ National Secondary Schools Championships are scheduled to be kicked off on May 4.
Sixty schools have registered to participate, and more than 1,000 aspiring athletes would be competing for top honours.
Endorsed by the Ministry of Education, this tournament would be the largest girls’ competition in Guyana, and would take place across nine of the ten administrative regions. Schools in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) will not participate in this year’s edition.

This tournament is a progression from the GFF-Blue Water Girls Under-15 Development League and festivals which were launched in 2022. The 2022 programme of activities played an integral role in stimulating interest in football among young girls and schools across Guyana.
For the GFF-Blue Water Shipping Under-15 Girls’ National Secondary Schools Championships, upcoming talents would be competing in three distinct stages: preliminary round-robin matches will be played at the regional level; followed by the Round of 16 and 8 group stage matches to be hosted at the Ministry of Education Ground on Carifesta Avenue in Georgetown and at the GFF National Training Centre in Providence, East Bank Demerara.
The format of the tournament has been designed to ensure adequate playing time for the players. Each player is assured a minimum of six (6) matches, and can participate in a maximum of sixteen (16). Promising players will earn opportunities to train for positions within the national team programme.
GFF President Wayne Forde has thanked Blue Water Shipping “for their ongoing commitment to investing in the youth of our nation,” adding that the championships are “a significant milestone in our ongoing endeavours to expand women’s football in Guyana”.
“This tournament is the beginning of our implementation of the competition phase of the FIFA Football for Schools (F4S) programme which was signed into being by FIFA, the GFF, and the Government of Guyana on May 12th, 2022. We will be establishing a Schools Football Secretariat later this year, and will be introducing additional competitions and festivals for boys and girls at the nursery, primary and secondary school levels. The long-term goal of the GFF is to work closely with the Ministry of Education and other key stakeholders in establishing a well streamlined schools football programme and yearly competition season,” he explained.
“This tournament is groundbreaking, as it stands as the largest girls’ tournament in Guyana’s history,(and is) set to be played in nine administrative regions and featuring sixty schools. Over 1,000 enthusiastic young girls are eager to exhibit their talents on a national stage, (which would be) a pathway for numerous promising players to earn selection into the junior national team programme,” Forde noted.
He revealed that the GFF will be establishing a network of trained tournament coordinators across the regions to administer the matches, and that child safeguarding workshops would also be conducted throughout the competition.
Blue Water Shipping Senior Vice President of Sales and Development, Richard DeNobrega, declared, “BWS Guyana Inc is extremely excited about the launch of the U15 Girls Tournament. We continue to see this tournament grow from strength to strength, and we are happy to collaborate with the GFF on its continued success. The lives of these young ladies will be enhanced, and we will surely see the talent pool for female football increase exponentially directly as a result of these tournaments. This tournament comes on the heels of other massive strides by the GFF and all stakeholders, including the Ministry of Education, to ensure that Guyana’s sporting talent in the world stage is further improved and recognized. Congratulations to all the young ladies, and best of luck!”
Schools participating in this tournament are as listed below.
REGION 1 (Barima-Waini): Kamwatta Primary; Kwebanna Primary; Santa Rosa Secondary and Waramuri Primary.
REGION 2 (Pomeroon-Supenaam): Abram Zuil Secondary
REGION 3 (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara): Uitvlugt Secondary, Vreed-en-Hoop Secondary, Westminster Secondary, West Demerara Secondary and L’ Aventure Secondary
REGION 4 (EAST BANK) (Demerara-Mahaica): Covent Garden Secondary, Friendship Secondary, Soesdyke Secondary and Yarrowkabra Secondary
REGION 4 (EAST COAST): Ann’s Grove Secondary, Beterverwagting Secondary, Bladen Hall Secondary, Bygeval Secondary, Hope Secondary, Lancaster Secondary, Plaisance Secondary and President’s College
GEORGETOWN (North): Chase’s Academic Foundation, New Campbellville Secondary, North Georgetown Secondary, Queen’s College, St. John’s College, and the Institute of Academic Excellence
GEORGETOWN (South): Carmel Secondary, East Ruimveldt Secondary, Dolphin Secondary, South Ruimveldt Secondary, The New Central High, Tucville Secondary, and West Ruimveldt Primary
REGION 5 (Mahaica-Berbice): Belladrum Secondary, Bush Lot Secondary, Fort Wellington Secondary, No. 8 Secondary, Rosignol Secondary and Woodley Park Secondary
REGION 6 (East Berbice-Corentyne): Berbice Educational Institute, Canje Secondary, New Amsterdam Secondary, Tutorial Academy and Vryman’s Erven Secondary
REGION 7 (Cuyuni-Mazaruni): Bartica Secondary and Three Miles Secondary
REGION 9 (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo): Aishalton Secondary, Annai Secondary, Karasabai Secondary, Nappi Primary, Sand Creek Secondary and St. Ignatius Secondary
REGION 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice): Harmony Secondary, Linden Foundation Secondary, Mackenzie High, New Silver City Secondary, Wisburg Secondary and Wismar Christianburg Secondary.