Over 170 eager young footballers from across multiple regions were brought together through the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) recently concluded Kool Kidz Summer Festival, held in collaboration with Guyana Beverages Inc.
The festival, which ran from August 3-25 at the GFF National Training Centre in Providence, saw both boys and girls under the age of 11 representing teams from as far as Berbice, West Demerara, and the East Coast of Demerara, as well as Georgetown and the East Bank Demerara.
These included the Paradise Invaders from Berbice; Vengy FC, Melanie FC and Buxton Academy from the East Coast Demerara; Pouderoyen FC and Kickstart Academy of West Demerara; and Beacons FC, Western Tigers, Fruta Conquerors, Diamond United and Eastveldt from Georgetown and East Bank.
The Kool Kidz Summer Festival, part of a broader initiative to bolster youth football, returned this year after a one-year hiatus.
Split into two phases, the first phase focused on teaching the fundamentals of the sport, ensuring that every participant left with a stronger foundation in football.
It culminated with a mini-tournament that allowed the young footballers to showcase their growing skills in a competitive setting.
The festival was supported by a team of trained coaches, all specialised in child safety, who ensured that the environment remained both fun and secure.
Matches were played in small sided formats, with four players per team, allowing for focused coaching and skill development tailored to each child’s needs.
Following the conclusion of the festival, Technical Director of the GFF, Bryan Joseph noted, “It was a fantastic four weeks of football. This model that we’ve done this year clearly shows that if we’re able to organise more and more of this, then we’ll be able to grow the football population in this country tremendously.”
Pinpointing the participation and enthusiasm observed during the tournament, he stated, “The temperature is very high, but these kids just want to keep playing. Whenever we bring the activity to an end they’re asking us to do more games. So this is excitement for the players, and this is excitement for the coaches.”
He added that the GFF is looking forward to continuing the programme to ensure more of the country’s youth develop a love for football.
As the Kool Kidz Summer Festival wraps up, the GFF and Guyana Beverages Inc. have set a strong precedent for the future of youth football in Guyana.
The event’s success highlights the growing interest in the sport among the nation’s youth and underscores the Federation’s commitment to grassroots football and nurturing talent from every corner of the country. (GFF)
