“When we talk about Digicel football, we talk about possibilities” – James

Digicel 6th Annual School Football Championship…

— tournament to kick-off on June 10

BY AKEEM GREENE

Digicel’s Head of Marketing Jacqueline James posited that the Digicel Schools football Champion is all about making possibilities a reality as the telecommunication giants Digicel, launched their sixth annual National schools football championship at the Covent Garden Secondary School, East Bank Demerara on Thursday.
James in her address to the gathering that included student and top officials of Digicel, the Guyana Football Federation and the National Sports Commission, explained that the tournament which caters for students aged 18 and under, will kick-off on June 10 and culminate with a grand final at the National Stadium, Providence on July 31.
The Marketing head, also revealed that the tournament which is under theme ““Unite. Develop. Excel” since its existence in 2011, will cater for 180 schools as compared to the 160 that registered in 2015.
Certainly for a tournament which spans throughout the ten administrative regions, it will transcend to an enormous investment and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the “Bigger Better Network” Kevin Kelly describes tournament as a “huge undertaking.”

“Everyone needs to pitch in because this is a huge undertaking, it’s the biggest undertaking in a sports event in the country,” the CEO said.
President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Wayne Forde highlighted the fact that Digicel has still given support to the Football fraternity despite the “tumultuous days of football in the past” and more so, the tournament is great for scouting young talent.
“We have seen more than enough talented players coming to the fore over the past six years and its now the undertaking of the Guyana Football Federation to access those talents and develop them and ultimately produce a national team that is representative of the ten administrative regions of Guyana,” Forde lamented.
Director of Sport Christopher Jones asserted that it not the sole responsibility of the government to develop sport in Guyana as corporate support is vital.
“This is a demonstration as to why Digicel Guyana is indeed the Bigger, Better Network because of their financial contribution to the development of sport and young people in general; I would want to encourage other corporate companies to come out and do what Digicel is currently doing,” Jones said.
He added, “It is opposite to believe that Government and Government alone has the responsibility for the development of sport; unless we

get the support of corporate Guyana, we will not be able to see the development of our young people and the ultimate development of sports in Guyana.”
The Tournament will be played on a knock-out basis and will have four play-offs and every region is expected to produce a champion team. However, region four will be dived into three sections, East Bank Demerara, East Coast Demerara and North and South Georgetown.
This year, the champion school will collect $1 million to fund a project of its choice, while the second to fourth place finishers will receive $700,000., $400,000 and $350,000. respectively, also to fund a school project.
The regional champions are also expected to $100,000. each also for school projects.
Christianburg Wismar Secondary School are the defending champions are after winning the title for four consecutive years.