Sport Ministry backs evolving KFC International School Football Tournament

The Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport has thrown its weight behind the expanding KFC International Secondary School Football tournament, vowing to take a “seminal” role in developing the competition into a regional powerhouse, with an initial investment of $3 million.

Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr highlighted the Ministry’s commitment during the official presentation ceremony on Tuesday, predicting a massive future for the Under-18 event, which recently confirmed teams from Brazil and The Bahamas for its largest-ever edition.

Minister Ramson Jr disclosed the state’s financial backing, insisting the investment would likely increase as the tournament grows.

“This is our first engagement in the tournament. There’s probably a likelihood that we will revise that moving forward, once we get a good feel for how the tournament will take off, but we believe in it.”

He was emphatic about the competition’s ceiling: “The potential for this event is huge. I’m telling you, you’re only scratching the surface right now. It will become a very successful regional tournament, which we will even see broadcast across the region.”

Ramson confirmed the Ministry’s intent to maintain a pivotal role, adding that the potential is “massive” and is the primary reason why their involvement moving forward “will be seminal.”

Minister within the Sport Ministry, Steven Jacobs, reiterated the importance of the public-private partnership in fostering local talent, particularly in football.

“It is so important to have such a tournament and to have this public-private partnership in creating opportunities for our young sportsmen and sportswomen,” the former cricketer-turned-politician articulated. “A lot of people might say football is the most popular sport in Guyana and we’ve seen a lot of interest.”

Jacobs praised the organisers, the Petra Organisation, for creating a “premier Schools’ football tournament here in Guyana,” which helps develop the game from the grassroots level.

Troy Mendonca, Co-Director of the Petra Organisation, celebrated the unique collaboration, noting that the coming together of “private individual, corporate Guyana and the Government of Guyana” to deliver a sporting event is highly significant for the Caribbean.

Furthermore, the Ministry will oversee the relocation of this cultural event from the Umana Yana to the Kingston Seawall Esplanade, a move aimed at maximising the showcase.

The sixth annual KFC International Secondary School Football Tournament will take place from December 14 to 21 in Georgetown, featuring eight teams from six nations.

The competition will be staged at two venues: the Ministry of Education Ground and the Queen’s College Ground.

This year features the debuts of State School Monteiro Lobato (Brazil) and the Anglican Central Education Authority (ACEA) Select (The Bahamas), joining Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and Suriname.

Guyana will be represented by the reigning champions, Chase’s Academic Foundation (who won the 2024 title in a dramatic 8-7 penalty shootout), and Annai Secondary. Their final representative will be decided at the impending Republic Bank League.