Twenty-four primary schools in Georgetown will contest the fourth annual Courts Pee Wee Under-11 football competition, set to kick off on September 28 at the Banks DIH ground, Thirst Park.
The tournament, which is a collaborative effort of furniture and appliance company, Courts (Guyana) Inc., beverage giant Banks DIH Limited and the Petra Organisation, was launched on Wednesday afternoon in the lunchroom of Courts’ Main Street outlet, where representatives of the various stakeholders reiterated the importance of investing in grassroots football.
Lead sponsor Courts (Guyana) Inc., has injected Gy$ 3.3 million into the event, which will conclude on November 2 when the final is held at the Banks DIH ground, Thirst Park, the venue for the 70 games of the competition.
The entity’s Managing Director, Clyde de Haas, said the investment in youth football is a clear representation of “bringing value home”, making direct reference to the Courts theme.
He expressed the company’s delight at partnering with other organisations for the development of football at the grassroots level, adding that the competition is growing with each passing year.
Last year’s tourney attracted 16 schools.
Urging the players to “let good sportsmanship prevail”, de Haas announced that the top four schools will receive a 32-inch television set each to aid visual sessions in the classroom. In 2012, the four top schools were recipients of a laptop each.
Co- director of the Petra Organisation, Troy Mendonca, said the development of football at the grassroots level will ultimately benefit all levels of the game, hence the decision to focus on the Under-11 division.
Outlining the format, Mendonca stated that the teams will be divided into six groups of four teams, which will contest a round robin. The top two teams from each group, along with the four best third place finishers will advance to the Round of 16, after which the teams will battle for positions 1-16.
Allison Rawlins, representing the Education Ministry, said such a tournament would always be endorsed by the ministry, as it provides an avenue for children in the schools system to become well-rounded individuals.
She also used the opportunity to enforce the importance of discipline, urging the students/ players to comply with the rules and regulations of the tournament at all times.
The participating primary schools are defending champions Marian Academy, last- year’s runner-up Tucville Primary, St Agnes, West Ruimveldt, St Margaret’s, St Sidwell’s, South Ruimveldt, North Georgetown, Ketley, St Gabriel’s, F. E. Pollard, Enterprise, St Pius, Sophia, Success, Redeemer, New Guyana School, Green Acres, Stella Maris, St Winifred, Winfer Garden, J. E. Burnham, St Angela’s and East Ruimveldt.
