KFC injects over $2M into second annual Goodwill Tournament

…Number of participating schools to increase

By Jemima Holmes

KFC Guyana and the Petra Organization on Friday afternoon renewed their partnership in regard to hosting of the KFC Goodwill Tournament.
The proceedings took place at the company’s Vlissengen Road office, where it was disclosed that this year’s edition is expected to feature additional teams from Guyana and the wider region.

KFC’s Charissa Rampersaud presents the sponsorship cheque to Troy Mendonca in the presence of Petra’s Mark Alleyne and GFF’s Wayne Dover

For the second year running, the KFC Goodwill Tournament will give some of the best and most competitive school football teams in Guyana and the wider region opportunity to showcase their skills.
Troy Mendonca, representing the coordinating body, the Petra Organization, declared the rationale behind hosting such a tournament. “Ever since we conceptualised this tournament two years ago, the whole idea was to give our schoolboys the opportunity to compete among a team, or teams, for us to understand where our level is at in terms of our performance. You would all agree that our boys last year gave a good account of themselves,” Mendonca explained.
The number of participating teams has been increased from the 4 of last year to six this year; and this tournament’s second edition is expected to feature two hinterland schools, namely Annai and Waramadong Secondary.
He said that two more local teams will join the line. Those two teams will be the first- and second-placed finishers in the upcoming Guyoil Football League. Last year’s champions, the Shiva Boys out of Trinidad and Tobago, will also participate, as would the USL Montjoly Academy out of French Guiana.
Mendonca expressed gratitude to KFC for giving youths such a platform. Speaking on behalf of the entire football fraternity and on GFF President Forde’s behalf, he said, “We would like to say ‘a special thank you’, and you’re not just investing in the actual playing of the game, but developing future leaders in our society.”
KFC Training Manager Charissa Rampersaud explained that the company is committed to its corporate responsibility, and she declared that she is looking forward to an exciting tournament.
“In our commitment to support the development of our youths, with the hope of some even becoming world class athletes, we have teamed up with the Petra Organization for the second consecutive year for the KFC Goodwill Tournament. We are confident that this tournament will be an exciting exhibition of skills and competition that will result in a thrilling experience for all fans,” she said.
The Guyana Football Federation has declared its support of the competition. Under-20 Coach Wayne Dover explained that the Federation will use the tournament as a basis for scouting new under- 20 talents.
“Only recently, the GFF embarked on a nationwide talent-scouting (exercise) to arrive at the next generation of Under-20 players for the CONCACAF Championships next year; and like I said, this initiative is timely. Cause as we go through the nation to scout talent, we will use this very tournament to get many players out of the school system to be a part of the national set-up,” Dover explained.
KFC has injected some $2.5 million into the tournament, and it is tentatively expected to last from December 15th to December 22nd.