Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Elite League Season Five will kick off on Sunday, May 14 with ten FIFA-licensed football clubs competing to win a total of four million dollars in cash prizes.
The 2023 league was officially launched at the GFF Headquarters in Georgetown on April 29.
No Elite League football has been played since May 2019 and the GFF gave each of the teams G$500,000 to bolster their preparation.
According to a release from the GFF, the league will run until the end of July and will feature the teams of season four.
It features the reigning champions Fruta Conquerors, Guyana Defence Force Football Club, Western Tigers Football Club, Den Amstel Football Club, Victoria Kings Football Club, Buxton United Sports Club, Milerock Football Club, Ann’s Grove Football Club, Guyana Police Force Football Club and Santos Football Club.
The GFF indicated, “This shortened season will allow us to re-establish the full League season, which will run from September 2023 to July 2024.”
GFF President Wayne Forde said players participating in the two-month league, which will be broadcast on the FIFA+ platform, will benefit tremendously from global exposure.
“We are happy to kick off season five of the Elite League and look forward to some exciting matches in the coming weeks.”
The GFF President added, “Our players will benefit tremendously from the global exposure they will enjoy through the FIFA+ live-streaming platform. My hope is that this exposure will create new opportunities for these young men to access international professional contracts”.
The winner of the league will automatically qualify for the CONCACAF / Caribbean Shield Championships.
Instead of the intended 18 matches per team, it will just be nine for this season and matches be played at the Guyana Defence Ground, Guyana Police Force Ground, National Track and Field Facility, West Coast Demerara, and the GFF’s National Training Facility, Providence.
After the start on Sunday, match days will be Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
The two clubs scoring the most points advance to the two-million dollars championship match while the bottom two will be relegated.
A victorious club will be awarded three points, a draw gets teams one point each, and a defeated team will be awarded no points on the overall table.
Three points will be deducted from a team that forfeits a match.
“This is the platform where Guyana’s best players will play the highest level of football. It’s a competitive environment established to attract national, global, and international interest in clubs with skilled players,” Forded added.
