ExxonMobil Guyana pumps $6M into U14 football tournament

ExxonMobil Guyana on Tuesday extended its interest in sports development with a mammoth $6M investment into the Petra Organized ExxonMobil Boys and Girls Under-14 Football tournament.

24 boys’ teams and 8 girls’ teams, all from the Under-14 division, will spring into action this Saturday, July 16th, 2022, as the ExxonMobil tournament kicks off at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground on Carifesta Avenue.
The tournament was officially launched on Tuesday afternoon at the Cara Lodge in Georgetown, in the presence of a string of high-ranking football and sport officials. Among the group was Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr; National Sports Commission (NSC) Chairman Kashif Muhammad; Assistant Director of Sports, Melissa Dow- Richardson; ExxonMobil’s Ryan Hoppie, GFF’s Bryan Joseph, Ministry of Education’s Dr. Olato Sam, and officials of the Petra Organization.
Bringing the feature address was Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr, who recognised ExxonMobil’s commitment in the need to maintain long-term partnerships in the world of sport.
“For a long time, the horizon was very short-term, because there (weren’t) enough evidence and signals for us to have a belief in a longer-term vision of the future, and there was a lot of instability that occurred that either caused that or was a result of that. Now that long-term vision is changing, that’s helping to change the culture of the country too,” the Sport Minister explained.
Ramson Jr continued, “That’s why I’m stressing the importance of long-term partnerships. These tournaments are not tournaments that must be here-and-now; it must be here and in the future for a very, very long time to come. Those young people who I speak on behalf of, they need it.”
On a similar note, ExxonMobil’s Community Relations Advisor Ryan Hoppie expressed the company’s commitment to ensuring the investment is impactful for youths. Hoppie related, “ExxonMobil and its partnership with the Petra Organization is in keeping with our community investment in the area of youth, as well as community empowerment. When we partner with NGOs like Petra, we establish meaningful relationships, and we build on these as an integral part of ensuring communities benefit from social enhancement initiatives like this.
“That’s why ExxonMobil is committed, in this case through sport, more specifically boys and girls football tournaments, to continue directing our sponsorship in strategic areas that have positive impacts throughout Guyana,” he went on to highlight.
With a number of national youth championships coming up, the tournament is expected to provide the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) with a pool of talent.
Recognizing this, Assistant Technical Director Bryan Joseph touched on the benefit of the tournament.
“This tournament provides an opportunity for the young girls to express themselves on the football pitch, learn new skills, make new friends, and develop valuable life skills in a tremendously empowering environment; and (it) goes well beyond football development, and we’re delighted that Petra and ExxonMobil (have) answered this call,” Joseph explained.
He added, in praise of the organising committee’s efforts, “The Petra Organization is a strategic partner that has been doing very well to support the growth and development of the game in Guyana.”
Expressing gratitude to the supporters of the tournament, especially title sponsors ExxonMobil, Petra’s Co-Director Troy Mendonca shared expectations of an exciting tournament. He said, “I think these programmes are a part of the whole football development of the country. I think that this year we’re going to have a very exciting tournament. Already, we have our under-18 tournament running, and it seems as though persons really miss the competitions.”
The Boys’ tournament will be broken down into six groups, and then cut down to 16 teams after the round robin stage. From there, teams will vie for the top spot without fear of being knocked out of the tournament.
The format will be the same for the Girls’ competition, with no knockouts occurring.
The schools will not be handed cash, but would have to outline a school programme that they wish to execute with their winnings. The first-place team would receive $300,000 for their project; second place, $150,000; third place, $75,000; and fourth place, $40,000. The prize monies are the same for both boys and girls. (Jemima Holmes)

Schools participating in this Under-14 tournament include:
L’Aventure Secondary Boys
Patentia Secondary Boys
New Campbellville Secondary
Cummings Lodge Secondary
Dolphin Secondary
East Ruimveldt Secondary
Lodge Secondary School
Leonora Secondary
North Ruimveldt Secondary Boys
St Cuthbert’s Mission
West Ruimveldt Secondary
Freeburg Secondary Boys
West Demerara Secondary Boys
Golden Grove Secondary Boys
Tutorial High School Boys
Marian Academy Boys
St John’s Bosco Boys, Plaisance
New Central High School
Houston Secondary School Boys
Charlestown Secondary
St Winefride’s Secondary
Boys
Kingston Secondary Boys
Tucville Secondary
Ann’s Grove Secondary.