…Corona pulls out of GFF’s Super 16
– GFF says show will go on
By Michelangelo Jacobus
Top Brandz through their Corona beer brand had partnered with the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) to hold the Super 16 year-end tournament which is currently being played in addition to bringing renowned dancehall artiste ‘Popcaan’ for the finals after-party on January 1.
However, the company hosted a press conference at their head office on Friday afternoon and revealed that they will take no further part in the tournament as they have not seen the materialization of GFF’s contribution in bringing ‘Popcaan’ to Guyana.
Top Brandz Marvin Wray (right) and Yannic Amsterdam at the press conference on Friday
Speaking at the press conference, Top Brandz Representative Marvin Wray disclosed; “everything did not fall into place, some matters came up that could not have validated our presence in the organization of the event anymore. We (Top Brandz) had promised you the people of the country to bring Popcaan for the final of the event, we have done everything we possibly could to have that in place, we’ve tried to do as much as we could, but the partnership that we had, it has not materialized on some ends, we are forced now to remove ourselves from this event.”
Wray maintained that despite the termination of the company’s partnership with GFF, the sport fraternity can look forward to numerous projects by Top Brandz in 2018 especially as they seek to launch a new brand of beer; the Hairoun beer out of St Vincent and the Grenadines. Through that brand, the company will look at the possibility of hosting various tournaments countrywide.
“We will consider football as our main source of spreading this beer; we will work closely with smaller organizations and the GFF in the future but immediately at the moment as it is, we will not be taking further part in the tournament [Super 16]. We deeply regret any issues or problems that may have arisen, it is with a sad and heavy heart because Popcaan is also a personal favourite of mine, we want to give you, the Guyanese public the best that you can get, we want to give you value for your dollar and if we believe at some time or the other things will not generate in a certain direction, we have to take a step back and give you what you deserve,” Wray continued.
“I implore of anybody out there; if you have an idea or concept that you think can benefit football or the sport fraternity, come visit us at Top Brandz and we can work something out because at the end of the day we believe that the future depends on you,” he challenged.
Initially, the agreement was that Top Brandz would facilitate 50% of the artiste’s fee and the GFF would fulfill the other 50% of the expenses to bring Popcaan to Guyana, however up to Friday Top Brandz maintained that they were ready to fulfill their obligation.
Meanwhile, the Guyana Football Federation issued a media release on the matter stating that a surprise international artiste will be present for the after-final party.
