SBM, VMFA team up for Women’s Football training project

A game-changing developmental programme was launched on Friday morning at the National Racquet Center on Woolford Avenue, and will see 50 young women benefitting from professional football training.
The collaboration between SBM Offshore Guyana and the Vurlon Mills Football Academy (VMFA), as sponsor and organizer respectively, will reportedly span a year in its initial run.
Former Golden Jaguars player Vurlon Mills, after whom the Academy is named, spoke of the vision of the project and how SBM’s support would impact it positively.
The former national footballer said, “This alliance is not just a partnership; it is a manifestation of our shared dreams to empower the next generation of female football talent. Sponsorship provides the funding for large projects to reach its maximum potential. SBM Offshore Guyana, with their unwavering support, has displayed a profound understanding of the impact of sport on society.

“Mr. Martin, I want to say thanks to you and your team,” Mills added.
SBM Offshore’s General Manager Martin Chung shed some light on why the company chose to support such an initiative. He said, “This project is one that we are particularly excited to support, especially since it will provide training for 50 aspiring young female footballers in Guyana.
“I take this opportunity to commend Vurlon Mills and his team for undertaking this initiative, for advancing the physical and mental growth of young women,” Chung shared with the gathering of company representatives, female players and coaches.
Chung went on to state, “SBM Offshore places great value on the development of youths, particularly young women. We believe that by investing in young people through sports, education, or capacity building programmes, we can tangibly contribute to Guyana’s upward trajectory towards a prosperous future in its human resources.”

Meanwhile, Technical Director at the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Bryan Joseph, shared just how impactful the programme would be for developing talent at the grassroots level. He said, “The challenge is not that we don’t have the talent in this country, the challenge is that we have not given that talent a chance, a real chance. This programme, Vurlon, gives grassroots players a real chance. Every young girl should have equal opportunity like every young boy to play international football and represent their county. As it stands, it doesn’t exist. This can be the start of that project.
“So, Vurlon, I want you to understand how important it is,” Joseph urged.
In addition to football training, the SBM Offshore Guyana and VMFA project will seek to conduct life skills sessions for the female players, which will include problem-solving, decision-making, and building communication skills.