GFF-K&S Super 16: Fruta Conquerors, Western Tigers stay alive

…as Ramson Jr announces corporate registry

Fruta Conquerors and Western Tigers Football Clubs won on Sunday night to stay alive in the tournament, as the Guyana Football Federation (GFF)-Kashif and Shanghai (K&S) Men’s Super 16 Tournament officially opened at the National Track and Field Facility, Leonora, West Coast Demerara (WCD).

In addition, Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr had an interesting announcement for corporate Guyana. An initiative, if seen through, will boost corporate sponsorship of sport tremendously in the country.

On the pitch, Fruta Conquerors only needed two strikes to oust their opponents, Berbice All Stars from the straight knockout tournament. Dennis Edwards had the first goal in the 23rd minute, while Jamal Codrington joined the scoring party in the 48th.

Later on Sunday night, Western Tigers played to a goalless second half, in order to restrict Rupununi All Stars in an entertaining encounter. Following a few offside calls, Daniel Wilson was finally able to collect a legal pass and head goal-ward for Western Tigers’ first in the 14th minute.
Trayon Bobb soon added to the tally in the 33rd, but a long shot from Rupununi’s Franklyn Parks in the 41st dimmed the Tigers’ celebrations. The second segment was filled with missed chances as the scores remained on 2-1, in favour of Western Tigers.

Corporate registry
Meanwhile during his remarks at the opening ceremony, the Sport Minister announced plans to keep corporate Guyana engaged at the Ministry level.
“I would like to take this opportunity as well, to call on corporate Guyana, that the Ministry is now establishing a registry for corporate Guyana, so that when the Ministry and the National Sports Commission (NSC) start to reach out to say that these tournaments [need sponsorship] – tournaments for all the sports that are connected to the sports academy that we’re going to launch in the next few days,” the Minister said, taking into account the Super 16 tournament’s vast sponsorship.
He continued, “That when we reach out to them to say that we would encourage you to be part of the success of the sport, the success of the country, the success of the building of young people in this country, that they don’t turn around and say ‘our budget is too tight’.”
As such, Ramson Jr went on to add, “We see that you are doing well, we see that your corporate environment is expanding and when you have the opportunity to do business in the country and the Government is paying so much emphasis in expanding the business environment for us to be able to see your business grow, that when it comes to enhancing the young people and their opportunities and their prospects for their life, sport and cultural activities play an important avenue for their development.”
The sponsors for the Men’s Super-16 tournament include KFC, NEW GPC Inc, Mohamed’s Enterprise, BACIF, NAMILCO, MVP Sports, Fitness Express, Grand Coastal Hotel, Pegasus Hotel, Secure Innovations and Concepts, Jai Signs, Tony’s Jewellery, Fireside Grill and Chill, and Cevons Waste Management Inc. (Jemima Holmes)