Three venues in respective Member Associations will host this Saturday’s Guyana Football Federation Inc.’s (GFF) Grass Roots Festival including the National Track and Field Facility, Leonora; Scottsburg Community Centre Ground (Berbice) and Wisburg Secondary School Ground (Linden) from 10:00h to 14:00h.
All participants received certificates after engaging in the Grassroots Festival
While the participants of two events will be drawn from the general populace, the event at the National Track and Field Facility, Leonora will cater for approximately one hundred children from ten (10) schools located in Region Three and will be jointly facilitated by the GFF and CONCACAF.
As a lead up to the programme in Region Three, twenty-six (26) teachers will participate in a CONCACAF-facilitated “Coach-Educators” programme from today (Thursday) to Saturday. This programme, led by Lenny Lake – CONCACAF Instructor – will seek to build the capacity of the identified teachers to introduce the game of football to children six to twelve (12) years old through a variety of activities. All participants of the programme will be awarded the CONCACAF “E” License upon completion.
This is the fourth, fifth and sixth in a series of Grass Roots Festivals, the last being conducted in the Essequibo and East Bank Demerara Football Associations respectively. Franklin Wilson, President of the East Bank Demerara Football Association (EBDFA), said the Association was happy to partner with the GFF. “We’re very happy to work with the GFF…we’re very grateful to the parents and the guardians who have seen it fit to get these youngsters out here to get involved and to get a little understanding of what the beautiful game of football is all about. Kudos to the GFF and the new team, as well as the Executive, for seeing the need for such a programme.” He committed to his Association’s sustainability of the programme.
Renea Hunt, a participant, shared her thoughts about the programme and football. “It’s making your life change a lot and I think people should focus on that more but focus on your school work (as well)…football is all about having fun, it’s all about practicing to challenge one another.” In an invited comment, Coach Leevice Brathfit shared her thoughts about the benefits of the programme. “I know that this group session that we have – the Grass Roots festival – will benefit the youths in the future, working on their technique, developing basic skills and (I) know that they will improve, once they love the game they will keep coming and they will get a very good nursery…”
The objectives of the festival are; To promote and increase participation at Grass Roots level of both male and female; To introduce family members to the beautiful game in a positive environment and To act as a catalyst for GFF 2017 Grass Roots Coaching programme.
The festivals cater for children six to twelve (12 years); parents and caregivers are encouraged to accompany their children to the festivals. Admission to all events is free.
