By Jemima Holmes
The Petra Organization is continuing their efforts to provide multiple platforms and tournaments in which young footballers can showcase their talents. As such the organization will add a new tournament to their list of collaborations.
KFC’s Vlissengen Road General Manager Madanna Nelson seals the deal with the handing over of the sponsorship cheque to Petra’s Co-Director Troy Mendonca
The Goodwill football tournament will join the long list of school’s competitions and is receiving major sponsorship from the KFC brand. The tournament will is expected to cater to Under 18 players and will kick start after school would have closed their doors for the Christmas holiday.
Speaking at the launching on Thursday at the Vlissengen road Bel-Air Park location, co- Director of Petra, Troy Mendonca underscored the importance of the upcoming tournament, noting that like many other initiatives it has been in the planning pipeline for some time.
“This tournament was conceptualized since last year. I think the whole idea was to measure where we’re at in terms of local standing in our school football and build our counterparts in the Caribbean islands and also as an incentive for participating in our local tournaments,” Mendonca stated.
The three day tournament will feature four teams that are expected to be taken from several geographic areas in Guyana. In keeping with this stipulation, it has already been confirmed that the powerful team from Annai Secondary will be one of the teams featured in the competition. The second team that has been confirmed is the Shiva Boys’ Hindu College team from Trinidad and Tobago.
Speaking on KFC’s behalf Vlissengen’s Branch manager Madanna Nelson posited that the company is committed to community service.
“At KFC we believe in community building and we offer tremendous support to the youth of Guyana. As such we believe that it is through education and sport we will have stronger and healthier communities.”
Nelson went on to state that the company was not hesitant to collaborate with the Petra Organization given their impressive track record.
“While this is our first year in sponsoring the Goodwill tournament we have noted that the Petra organization in the past has made its mark in impacting communities and schools through sports. As such, KFC is proud to be the title sponsor for this event,” Nelson said.
President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Wayne Forde, praised the Petra Organization for their knack of finding new ways to keep the young players active.
“Beyond that I think my presence here and some of the work that we have been doing to support this programme and all the other programmes that the Petra organization has been embarking on is indicative of a collaboration that goes well for the development of the sport.”
In the same breath, he also commended KFC for their willingness to offer support to the development of the sport.
“I would just like to single out the investment that KFC is making in a critical area of football development. I’m pleased to see that KFC has reestablished its brand presence in the local market, I see all evidence of a business that is committed.”
In the next few months leading up to the tournament, the organizers will take the time to decide on the last two school teams that will be featured in the four team tournament.
