Jeremy Garrett views Digicel’s school tourney as key for scouting talent

BY AKEEM GREENE

Chase Academy’s young football prodigy Jeremy Garrett is of the view that the annual Digicel’s National School’s football tournament is a fantastic opportunity to scout for new talent and develop the National team.

“As a young football player in the country, I have played for the National level and I have seen the team being made up of persons around one area and it’s been a bit disturbing to me, so based on this tournament, I hope to see players from all around the country that have the ability to play in the national team”, Garrett said in an interview with Guyana Times Sport.

He added, “I just like the fact that Digicel can bring out all the talent that is bequeathed all around Guyana”.

The top concern for Garrett will be overcoming nemesis Christianburg/Wismar Secondary who defeated them 2-1 last year to become four-time consecutive champions.

However, a recent meeting at the National Stadium, Providence, which was a precursor to the Golden Jaguars match against Canada’s Olympic team, the Chase Academy side reversed the score line in their favour, with Garrett being amongst the scorers.

The 16-year old explained that this year, his team has high hopes of overcoming the Linden based team.

“We have very high expectation since we defeated them in the previous match up with them and we want to send a message to them that this year it will not be easy as this year, it will be much more competitive,” Garrett asserted.

The footballer, who also plays for the Fruta Conquerors Club, was

quizzed on whether there could be other schools in the Georgetown area who could pose a threat to his team.

He responded saying, “Chase Academy is without question, the better football school in Georgetown and we are expecting to win the Georgetown round as easy as possible, get into the knock-out round and do the same and possibly even win the final this year.”

The defensive mid-fielder, who is also a National sprinter, is focused on making sure he finds a balance to both his beloved football and academics as he seeks to secure a scholarship in the near future.

The tournament is played under the theme “Unite. Develop. Excel” and caters for students under the age of eighteen, will commence on June 10 and conclude on July 31 with a grand final at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

This year, the champion school will collect $1 million to fund a project of its choice.

The second to fourth place finishers will receive $700,000, 400,000 and $350,000 respectively, which will also go to a project of their choice in their school.

The regional champions are guaranteed $100,000 each. ([email protected])