The Guyana Beverages Incorporated yesterday donated $500,000 to the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) specifically to aid in the erection of a football stand at the Tucville Community Centre ground.

The stand will be known as the “Fruta Kool Kidz” stand.

Although construction of the 70×20 stand has not commenced, representatives of the GFA revealed that they had been assembling materials and collecting funding for the commencement of the project which can now be completed with the donation from the Guyana Beverage Company.

According to secretary the GFA, Marlon Cole, the government has given the project some assistance through the Youth Choice Initiative programme.

The National Milling Company (NAMILCO) and Patsan Trading have also contributed to the project.

General Manger of Guyana Beverages Inc. Robert Selman, said that his company had been a dedicated sponsor of football in Guyana since 1999, supporting the Fruta Conquerors football club.

“In most of the football games there are always spectators on the field while the game is being played and this because there is always a problem with seating accommodation. We hope to get rid of this problem and further to that, we will be working with the Fruta Conquerors and the GFA to ensure that all children under eight-years old will be admitted free in all of the Conquerors’ events, so that the stand will in essence provide a home for children under the name Fruta Kool Kidz stand.” Selman said.

Cole expressed his sincere gratitude and commended Guyana Beverages Inc. for always answering the call and continuing to support the development of football at the Tucville Playfield ground.

He added that the development of the Tucville facility was a step towards rectifying the problem of poor facilities in the country and would provide a place for the national team to practise without having to worry about being evicted by officers of the law.

Fruta Conquerors will also benefit from the generosity of the company which plans to pump over $800,000 into the club.

Cole also announced that there will be a grand launching of a nation-wide under-13 knockout competition which will commence in the next few weeks.

Cole said that they were optimistic that Guyana Beverages Inc. would again sponsor this tournament after the success of last year’s Chubby under-13 League.

The nation-wide u-13 competition will feature teams from all parts of Guyana and the venue for the games will be divided among Linden Berbice and Georgetown.