Inaugural GFF Youth Academy Cup to kick off in next week

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) is set to launch its first-ever Youth Academy Cup on July 16. It will feature the nation’s top under-16 boys opposing two youth academies from Trinidad and Tobago.
Guyana will field two teams – Guyana Jaguars and Panthers – with players selected from the Academy Training Centre (ATC) programme and the under-16 national team, to compete against Point Fortin Youth Football Academy and Tinto’s Sporting Academy.
Matches will be held at the Federation’s National Training Centre at Providence, East Bank Demerara, until July 21.
GFF Technical Director Bryan Joseph has said the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) endorsed the participation of the TT youth academies, and teams are expected to arrive in Guyana on July 15th.
“Over the past few years, we have struggled to have our youth players play international games within these shores. We have always travelled abroad to play the CONCACAF and CFU youth tournaments. As a consequence, we really have not afforded our local fans the opportunity to see our next generation of players. This inaugural tournament offers that opportunity.
“We want to make this a successful tournament, so we can build to accommodate more international teams from the region. We will also look to possibly expand into other age groups.” Joseph has said.

In total, eight games are scheduled, promising fans an intense and competitive tournament spanning six days.
The competition will be played in a Round Robin format, and conclude on the final day with the top two teams playing for the championship and the others playing for third place. Each team would play four games throughout the competition. A win would be worth three points, a draw would earn one point, and a loss would earn no points.
Matches would be of 80 minutes’ duration, divided into two forty-minute halves.
Following the first round, the top two teams would advance to the final, while the third and fourth-placed teams would compete for their respective standings.
The tournament kicks off with Point Fortin Youth Football Academy opposing Tinto’s Sporting Academy at 15:00hrs, followed by Guyana Jaguars facing Guyana Panthers at 17:00hrs.
On July 17, Point Fortin Youth Football Academy would meet Guyana Panthers at 15:00hrs, while Guyana Jaguars would take on Tinto’s Sporting Academy at 17:00hrs.
Moving to July 19, Guyana Panthers would clash with Tinto’s Sporting Academy at 15:00hrs, followed by Point Fortin Youth Football Academy coming against Guyana Jaguars at 17:00hrs.
On July 21st, the final match day, the third-place playoff would begin at 16:00 hrs and the Championship game at 18:00hrs.
GFF President Wayne Forde has added, “Our boys from the ATC Programme have already proven themselves on the national stage. This inaugural cup adds another layer, offering them a valuable opportunity to compete against their counterparts from Trinidad and Tobago, who, like our players, aspire to future international success in senior competition.
“I have every confidence that our two teams will proudly represent their nation on home soil.”
Launched in February 2017, the ATC Programme provides a structured pathway for players to progress seamlessly from grassroots to national teams across various age categories. Tailored to accommodate boys and girls aged five to seventeen, the programme operates through academies within the Federation’s nine member associations.
It has already contributed to the success of junior national teams and national youth tournaments such as the recently concluded Blue Water Shipping Under-15 Girls’ National Secondary School Championship and the Namilco Thunderbolt Flour Power Under-17 National Academy Playoff.
Football enthusiasts are urged to rally behind Guyana during the inaugural Youth Academy Cup.