By Treiston Joseph
Telecommunication giant Digicel on Wednesday launched its seventh nationwide School Under-18 Football Championships on Wednesday at the West Demerara Secondary School. The best school football teams across the nation will once again have a chance to compete for the most coveted junior title in the country when action kicks off on June 12.
At the launching, Head of Marketing for Digicel, Jacqueline James, expressed her pride and passion for the tournament, which has grown into a household name.
“Digicel’s School Football Championship today has officially launched its seventh exciting year of hosting this countrywide tournament under the theme: Unite- which is bringing families and friends and communities together; Develop- the talent of our youth through the passion of their favourite sporting activity and Excel- through putting their best foot forward through seeking to realise their dreams in becoming a member of the Guyana Golden Jaguars and ultimately reaching even higher heights.”
She continued, “Throughout the years we have maintained our commitment to the development of sports in Guyana and to date we have been the only corporate entity… tap on our backs… to have single handedly planned and executed the largest countrywide youth sports tournament throughout the 10 regions of Guyana.”
Customer Care Manager of Digicel, Sherwin Osborne, shared the reason the tournament was created. “In 2011 we started this tournament to unite all communities, develop students and players and provide a platform for them to excel as athletes and students. Now in our seventh year we are closer to realising that goal… we wish all the teams well and look forward to another great tournament.”
Meanwhile, Director of Sport Christopher Jones pledged the support of the National Sports Commission (NSC) to the mega company, noting that the work Digicel has done and continues to do is “commendable.”
Technical Director of the Ministry of Education, Dr. Wasir Mohammed, highlighted children must be allowed to play sport lamenting the fact that today’s academic system has overburdened the children, which has become a major concern of the Ministry of Education.
Nevertheless, Dr. Mohammed congratulated Digicel for its continued success and wished all the teams well for the 2017 edition of the event.
The tournament will have over 160 schools vying for the top prize of one million dollars towards a school project of their choice, while second will play for $700,000, third $400,000 and fourth $350,000. Digicel also plans to involve communities in the action and will have special prizes to encourage spectator participation in the tournament.
The championship will last approximately six weeks with the final set for July 30 at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.
