More than 170 youths benefit from GFF ‘Kool Kidz’ summer programme

More than 170 eager young footballers from across multiple regions were brought together through the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF’s) recently concluded Kool Kidz Summer Festival, held in collaboration with the Guyana Beverages Inc.
The festival, which ran from August 3 to August 25 at the GFF National Training Centre at Providence, EBD, saw both boys and girls under the age of 11 representing teams from as far as Berbice, West Demerara, East Coast Demerara, Georgetown, and East Bank Demerara. These included the Paradise Invaders from Berbice; Vengy FC, Melanie FC, and Buxton Academy from the East Coast; Pouderoyen FC and Kickstart Academy of West Demerara; and Beacons FC, Western Tigers, Fruta Conquerors, Diamond United, and Eastveldt from Georgetown and East Bank.

The Kool Kidz Summer Festival, part of a broader initiative to bolster youth football, returned this year after a one (1) year hiatus. Split into two phases, the first phase focused on teaching the fundamentals of the sport, ensuring that every participant left with a stronger foundation in football. It culminated in a mini-tournament that allowed the young footballers to showcase their growing skills in a competitive setting.
The festival was supported by a team of trained coaches, all specialized in child safety, who ensured that the environment remained both fun and secure. Matches were played in small-sided formats, with four players per team, allowing for focused coaching and skill development tailored to each child’s needs.
Following the conclusion of the festival, GFF Technical Director Bryan Joseph noted, “It was a fantastic four weeks of football. This model that we’ve done this year clearly shows that if we’re able to organize more and more of this, then we’ll be able to grow the football population in this country tremendously.”
Pinpointing the participation and enthusiasm observed during the tournament, he stated, “The temperature is very high, but these kids just want to keep playing. Whenever we bring the activity to an end, they’re asking us to do more games. So, this is excitement for the players, and this is excitement for the coaches.”
He added that the GFF is looking forward to continuing the programme in order to ensure more of the country’s youths develop a love for football.
As the Kool Kidz Summer Festival is wrapped up, the GFF and GBI have set a strong precedent for the future of youth football in Guyana. The event’s success highlights the growing interest in the sport among the nation’s youths, and underscores the Federation’s commitment to grassroots football and nurturing talent from every corner of the country.