Pele FC Alumni Educational Programme 2023 set for huge return

…Celebration Youth Education Matches this Thursday at GFC

The empowering of male and female young people in Guyana to overcome poverty by building their confidence, self-esteem and ambition through the power of sports and education, by the USA-based Pele FC Alumni is set to continue when the programme makes a grand return this week.

After the programme was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic for two years, Alumni Chairman Denis Carrington, Treasurer Patrick “Labba” Barton, and Executive Committee Member Eric “Riggy” Smith made a visit to Guyana last year to put the groundwork back in place for this year’s activity which will commence with a series of Youth Matches, under the theme, “Celebrating Youth Education”.
Coordinated by the local chapter, Pele Football Club – led by Dirk Exeter and Coach Gordon Brathwaite – along with the Alumni’s Local Coordinator David Gomes, many footballers and more than 130 youths will again benefit from the Alumni’s largesse.
Also forming part of Thursday’s action at the GFC Ground would be a tribute to the late King Pelé, after whom the club was named over 50 years ago.
Kicking off Thursday’s action at 15:00h would be a match between the respective Under-18 teams of the host club and Buxton Stars. This would be followed by a female clash between the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and St Cuthbert’s Mission.
The Masters will then take centre stage with a clash between old rivals Pele and Santos as the seasoned gladiators attempt to roll back the years. This would be followed by the tribute to King Pelé after which the main attraction of the night will see Pele’s senior team taking on Black Pearl. All matches would be played for 60 minutes.
The much-anticipated Youth Seminar, which sees youths being exposed to empowering sessions on life skills and other pertinent topics, would be held next week on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at the Police Sports Club, Eve Leary.
The attendees which would number well over 100 would also be beneficiaries of field trips to at least two places of interest, all funded by the Pele FC Alumni. The participants would also be receiving a number of school supplies as has been the custom over the years under the Educational Programme.
A social event is set to take place on Friday, April 14 that would involve dozens of past and current players, many of whom are based in the Diaspora and are expected home for the programme.