Guyana’s football fraternity was celebrated in fine style on Friday evening as the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) hosted their Awards ceremony, honouring the contributions that players, coaches, referees, private entities and the media have made to the improvement of the sport. The Federation, now in its 116th year, has a total of 2,160 registered players in its Regional Member Associations (RMA). Delivering the feature address, President of the GFF, Wayne Forde, highlighted the strides that the Federation has made to improve the level of football and pave the way for Guyana’s participation in the 2016 FIFA World Cup. The Federation is also in talks with Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to implement secondary and primary school leagues and give a boost to the fast rising popularity of football in the hinterland regions.
President of the GFF, Wayne Forde, flanked by the awardees
“My administration’s priorities during the past two and a half years have been deliberately focused on stabilizing the football fraternity, unifying the football family, rebuilding the image of the sport, and establishing a clear vision for the game,” Forde stated.
Foremost, the Federation took the time out to honour its sponsors and partners, who have contributed significantly to the GFF’s work. Corporate giants such as Camex Restaurants/Church’s Chicken, Banks DIH, ANSA McAL, Digicel, Bank of Nova Scotia, Pele Alumni Corporation, Knight Rider Bus Service, Henry Chase Academy and NAMILCO were among those recognized.
The highly anticipated Presidential Merit Award was given to Gordon Braithwaite, who has been playing since the 1960s, for his lifelong contribution to the sport.
Jamal Shabazz has been hailed as the most successful National Team Coach.
The Other Awardees included:
GFF Association of the year- The East Bank football association
GFF Most Improved Association- Rupununi association
GFF Print media journalist of the year- Rawle Toney
GFF Non-Print Journalist of the year- Travis Hopkinson
GFF Online Journalist of the year- Avinash Ramzan
GFF Photographer of the year- Orlando Charles
GFF Senior Club of the year- Guyana Defence Force FC
GFF Junior Club of the year- Fruta Conquerors
GFF Fair Play Award- Buxton United FC
GFF Female Assistant Referee of the Year- Marineika Welcome
GFF Male Assistant Referee of the Year- Kevin Stephens
GFF Female Referee of the Year- Maurees Skeete
GFF Male Assistant Referee of the Year- Gladwyn Johnson
GFF Female Coach of the year- Akilah Castello
GFF Male Coach of the year- Male Coach Bilaal Nantambu
GFF Female Junior Footballer of the Year- Jalade Trim
GFF Male Junior Footballer of the Year- Orville Daniels
GFF Female footballer of the Year- Tiandi Smith
GFF Male footballer of the Year- Sherwyn Ceasar
