KFC’s Pamella Manasseh and GFF’s Troy Peters flanked players and coaches after they received their KFC Elite League Season 5 spoils
Four football clubs were richly rewarded on Friday afternoon when prizes for the 2023 KFC Elite League Competition were distributed in a simple ceremony at the title sponsors’ Headquarters, located at Vlissengen Road, Georgetown.
Attended by KFC Guyana Marketing Manager Pamella Manasseh, Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Director of Competitions Troy Peters, players and coaches, the activity saw cash prizes to the tune of $4.5M being handed over to 4 clubs, namely the Guyana Defence Force, Western Tigers, the Guyana Police Force, and Santos Football Club, with Champions GDF FC receiving their whopping $2M grand prize.
Championship winners GDF FC receiving their prize from KFC’s Marketing Manager Pamella Manasseh
Cash prizes were also awarded to the football clubs that secured second, third and fourth places in the prestigious national competition: Western Tigers ($1.2M), Guyana Police Force ($800,000) and Santos ($500,000).
Guyana Defence Force FC Captain Kenard Simon said the victory was not surprising because the team and coaching staff “go about doing things different” from the other clubs. “It wasn’t surprising for us, because we know that we are the number one team, we know that we could’ve come out victorious just because of the level of training, the level of respect that we have in the country.”
Simon added that players are looking forward to Season Six of the Elite League, and that supporters will see “a lot more” from the defending champions.
The winning club recorded eight wins and one draw to finish on 25 points, while Western Tigers and Guyana Police Force scored 22 and 21 points respectively at the end of Season Five.
The GFF-KFC Elite League Season 5, which kicked off on May 14 and concluded on July 22, featured 10 of Guyana’s best football clubs in a one-round format – Fruta Conquerors, the Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Police Force, Western Tigers, Santos, Milerock, Ann’s Grove, Buxton United, Victoria Kings, and Den Amstel.
In May, KFC Guyana signed a ten-million-dollar sponsorship deal with the GFF as part of the company’s commitment to football development in Guyana.
KFC Guyana Marketing Manager Pamella Manasseh congratulated the champions and pledged the company’s continued support of the GFF’s football programme.
“Congratulations to the winner! Congratulations to the opponent! You guys did a fantastic job! To the coach, I must say, ‘Behind everything there’s a good backbone. We at KFC Guyana are always on board to support these events’. So, we will continue doing so. We’ll continue making our youths smile and develop, and at the same time, we must say this is all about…football.”
She added that she attended the matches and ‘saw the glory’. “I saw the history, and I’m adding to it. Thank you, guys, you did a great job, we continue as KFC family to support you.”
Matches were played at Eve Leary Ground in Georgetown and at the GFF National Training Centre at Providence, East Bank Demerara.
GFF Director of Competitions, Troy Peters, thanked the ten participating clubs, players, fans, KFC Guyana, Guyana Beverage Inc, EC Vieira Investments Limited; Brass, Aluminium and Cast Iron Foundry; and GT&T for making Season Five a resounding success.
“The league was a resounding success, and the GFF would like to say a big thank you to our suppliers and contractors, the 10 elite clubs, our passionate fans, and remarkable players who entertained us with countless memorable moments throughout the tournament,” he noted during his brief remarks.
“KFC Guyana added a special flavour to Season Five, and I’m proud to say today that this ceremony is the icing on the cake as we express our heartfelt gratitude to your company and key partners who made invaluable contributions to the league.”
He, too, congratulated the top four teams and acknowledged the other six participating clubs for producing some of the most memorable moments in club football history.
“The Guyana Defence Force stood tall among the 10 clubs to emerge winners after 45 pulsating matches, and even on the final night of the League, the atmosphere was electrifying,” Peters added as he thanked the GFF team for their hard work and commitment to the game.
For the first time ever, matches were streamed live via FIFA+ platform, giving sponsors and players global exposure.
