Developments in local football: Elite League clubs to get transfer negotiation rights from Season 6

…Forde lauds commitment of coaches and players

The overriding ambition of Guyana’s leading football clubs is to compete in the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF’s) Premier League; and on Wednesday, November 22, the Elite League Promotional Draw brought together nine champions of the Member Associations League to reveal their pathway for potential promotion to the 2024 league.
That pathway, the Playoff, is scheduled to commence on December 17th, and the participating clubs have been divided into three groups. Group ‘A’ comprises Buxton Stars (East Coast Demerara Football Association), Beacons (Bartica Football Association), and Monedderlust (Berbice Football Association).
Group ‘B’ features Tabatinga (Rupununi Football Association), Herstelling Raiders (East Bank Demerara Football Association), and Beacon (Georgetown Football Association).
Lastly, Group ‘C’ includes Dartmouth (Essequibo/Pomeroon Football Association), Slingerz (West Demerara Football Association), and Winners Connection (Upper Demerara Football Association).

GFF President Wayne Forde has praised the coaches and triumphant clubs for their steadfast journey to victory in the regional league, thereby securing their opportunity for potential promotion to the Elite League. He underscored the notable increase in local football investment, which has resulted in the recent expansion of the league from eight to ten clubs, a collaborative achievement credited to the dedicated support of member associations, clubs, and fervent coaches, notably Gordon Braithwaite and Sampson Gilbert.
Recognising the hurdles faced by smaller clubs during player transfers, Season Six confers on each club the freedom to engage in commercial discussions if they opt to transfer a player to another team.
“We understand the dynamics of an amateur football environment which we are in (in) Guyana. We also must respect the hours and the limited resources that have been invested in these players. So, for Season Six, the regulations will give every club the right to have commercial discussion with any club that chooses to transfer one of their players. I believe that is a step in the right direction,” GFF President Wayne Forde has said.
He told happy players that the upcoming season will be played in the GFF National Training Centre at Providence, East Bank Demerara under the newly installed FIFA-approved lights. Matches would also be broadcast live on the FIFA+ platform.
The draw was conducted by GFF Technical Director Bryan Joseph and Competitions Director Troy Peters, with assistance from Joyann Williams. Both directors have congratulated the teams, and outlined the tournament’s structure, which comprises a round-robin phase that would see the group champions and the best-performing second-place team progress to the knockout stage.
Fans can expect an electrifying opening night, as Buxton Stars oppose Beacons; Tabatinga clash with Herstelling Raiders; and Dartmouth battle Slingerz. With every team aiming for victory, spectators would inevitably see intense clashes on the field.
Mark Anthony of Beacons Football Club (Bartica Football Association) is confident his club has what it takes to “win it all the way.” He said, “Our strategy is a mixture of youth and experience, and a good flavour of good football.”
Coach of Slingerz Football Club (West Demerara Football Association), Charles Pollard, added, “The draw is a little tricky, but we take it as it comes. I think our team is very rounded. I know the teams are very good, but it’s football, and we know football; it could roll any side. So, we are not being cocky, we respect all the teams, we’re gonna do our homework.”
Coach Devnon Winter of Herstelling Raiders Football Club (East Bank Demerara Football Association) expressed that his team is in a “comfortable group…cause I know Tabatinga and I know Beacons. We are a growing team, we are a young team, we played under real strenuous conditions, and we won the League. So we just need to continue the same thing we’ve been doing – training and strategising and working hard.”
Matches will be played on Saturdays at the following grounds: Eve Leary, Rosignol Ground, Bartica Community Center, Buxton Ground, Wisburg Secondary School ground, Tuschen Ground, Anna Regina Multi School Ground, and Wadapna Ground. The tournament concludes on January 1, 2024.