Representatives of the nine teams that will compete in the Elite League Promotional Playoff next month
Nine teams from across the country will vie for the chance to secure one of two spots on the sixth edition of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Elite League 2024 when the Promotional tournament kicks off on December 17.
As such, representatives of the teams were all present at the GFF’s National Training Centre (NTC), Providence on Wednesday night, where the official draw for the tournament was conducted.
With the teams being sorted into three groups of three, Group A consists of East Demerara Football Association’s Buxton Stars FC, Bartica FA’s Beacon FC, and Berbice FA’s Monedderlust FC; in Group B are Rupununi FA’s Tabatinga FC, East Bank FA’s Herstelling Raiders and Georgetown FA’s Beacon FC while Group C has Essequibo/Pomeroon FA’s Dartmouth FC, West Demerara FA’s Slingerz FC and Upper Demerara FA’s Winners Connection.
GFF President Wayne Forde
Each team in the three-member group will play a home and away game during the preliminary round, after which the group winners and best second-place team will advance to the semi-finals.
In the semi-final draw, it was fixed that the winner of Group C would play the best second-place team in semi-final 1, while the winners of Group A and B will compete in semi-final 2.
Sharing remarks at the event, GFF President Wayne Forde spoke on the evolution of the Elite League and the commitment shown by those involved.
“When the League started in 2016, it costed a club either $500,000 of one million dollars to register to play in the League. This season, every club received a participation grant of $500,000. What does that mean? It means that there were days in the past when a club had to pay to be a part of the League, but now we are rewarding you for being in the League by providing you with funds and equipment that can help you,” Forde shared in an ode to how much the League has grown since its inception.
A glimpse of the draw being conducted by GFF’s Joyann Williams
He added, “We are also considering ways and means in which we can increase the participation grant, because, at a minimum, a club must be able to compensate a coach – even if it is a reasonable stipend that he or she can have on a monthly basis. The commitment and dedication that Coaches bring to this game is something that most of us with vast amount of resources would not be able to afford.”
Meanwhile, Coach Charles Pollard of Slingerz FC and Coach Gordon Braithwaite of Georgetown’s Beacon FC were on hand to share their thoughts on the commencement of the tournament.
“This was our goal. We’re excited, I think we went through the League system, it was good, haven’t conceded no goals. I think we’re excited for the playoff to get our foot in the Elite League once again,” Pollard articulated.
On the other hand, Braithwaite said, “Well, this is what we’ve been waiting for and hoping for. The draw has been kind to us, I feel, but no game is easy, especially when I’m the Coach ‘cause I’m the benchmark, everybody does raise their game and want to play well against me. But I appreciate that, so it makes me play better.”
The winners of the tournament will be promoted to the Elite League in place of Milerock FC, who finished 10th in this year’s edition of the Elite League and as a result, have been relegated. The losing finalist will have a second shot at the Elite League. That team will play Victoria Kings, who finished ninth in the 2023 edition, for the other available spot in the League.
While there will be no prize monies, the two teams being promoted to the League will receive a $1 million preparation grant. If only one team is promoted from the Promotional playoff, then that team will be the only one to receive the grant, since Victoria Kings will not be eligible to receive such in the event they triumph in their playoff game.
