January 2, 2022 marked the conclusion of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Women’s Super-16 Championship, which was held in partnership with the National Association of Women’s Football, and according to the Association’s President, Andrea Johnson, the tournament has created a platform to push for further equality in the sport locally.
Initially, 16 teams were to compete in the tournament, but that was reduced to 14 after Santos FC and New Amsterdam United opted out at the last minute.
However, the inaugural Women’s year-end tournament was still hailed as a success in the wider objective of creating a platform of equality in men’s and women’s football.
“I think the tournament has impacted the players a lot; one of the things is for us [and] them to see that they are not second to the males. We are trying for them to see that they can be treated equally even though it is a male-dominated sport [and] we want the females to have the same right and be treated the same way as well,” Johnson conveyed at a press briefing on Tuesday.
For Johnson, the tournament was also an eye-opener in the sense that there is a desperate need for more of such in order to enhance the level of talent.
“One of the things we would have considered, we need to have more women’s football being played locally. As you would have seen throughout the 11 playing days, the talents we have here in Guyana, not only on the coastland, but in the hinterland as well.”
Johnson said herself and GFF President, Wayne Forde, had discussions to commence Leagues that can potentially enhance the performance of the players.
Furthermore, Forde indicated while they kept their eyes on the tournament for potential talents, the bigger aim was participation. And, with the momentum, he asserted that providing conditions remain favourable they will be more tournaments for Women and Girls in 2022.
Additionally, the GFF head said they are reviewing how the publicity of the tournament was done, given it was played alongside two other male tournaments and the aim is to have equal visibility for all tournaments.
The GFF Women’s Super 16 tournament was held under the theme, ‘We Rise Against Domestic Violence’ to highlight the plight of this scourge, which continues to plague society.
