For the first time in history, Guyana will now have national teams at all the junior levels as the Guyana Football Federation Inc. (GFF) and Scotiabank, on Thursday launched Guyana’s first nationwide “GFF-Scotiabank Academy Training Centres” at the Umana Yana.
According to a release from GFF, this programme is geared at boosting participation and more effectively developing young talent for national team selection.
The national programme aims to put Guyana at the forefront of youth football development in the Caribbean, and forms a major part of the GFF’s long-term vision to transform Guyana into the top footballing nation in the region.
“Today’s groundbreaking announcement is a true game changer for our sport,” GFF President Wayne Forde said at the launch. “Through this partnership, we have the chance to transform the fortunes of our game and the lives of our young players for many years to come.”
From left to right; Ivan Persaud, Jennifer Cipriani, Wayne Forde and Ian Greenwood officially unveil the ATC insignia
The 13 academies will be run by a team of nine full-time GFF Technical Development Officers and 14 part-time GFF Youth Development Coaches, working with the GFF’s nine Regional Member Associations to offer age-specific, weekly training sessions to boys and girls aged between five and 17 years.
The programme will deliver coordinated and structured training in line with Guyana’s new national football philosophy and international standards, from fun grassroots activities to professional sessions that prepare the most talented, hard-working boys and girls for the demands of international football.
The programme has been made possible by support from Scotiabank and general funding from the GFF and FIFA, the world governing body of football. The support of the respected, international brand of Scotiabank underlines the progress the new leadership of the GFF has made in attracting new private sector support and in restoring credibility to football in Guyana.
“This marks a momentous occasion in the Scotiabank sponsorship calendar,” said Scotiabank Marketing Manager Jennifer Cipriani in her address. “We look forward to contributing to the rise of football in Guyana, and celebrating many great moments for Team Guyana in the future.”
The academy system creates a clear pathway for young players from grassroots, schools and clubs to national team selection. It will be overseen by GFF Technical Director Ian Greenwood and the GFF Technical Development Department, which has been increased three-fold to a team of six as the GFF focuses on football development as a top priority.
“We have fantastic potential in this country, we just have to harness it in a structured way,” said Greenwood, giving an overview of the extensive programme at the launch.
Chairman of the Guyana National Sports Commission Ivan Persaud welcomed the new initiative and urged the football community to keep the Academy Training Centre programme in place as part of the long-term plan for all future GFF administrations.
“This is something that Guyana has been waiting for for a long time, and finally it is here,” Persaud said at the launch. “This is a very solid programme.” As part of the launch, an official insignia was unveiled by Forde, Cipriani, Persaud and Greenwood.
