Digicel, the fastest-growing telecommunications Company in Guyana, and the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) will continue their partnership today with the start of the Digicel International Friendly Series.

The Digicel Intern-ational Friendly Series comprises five friendly international matches by the national football team to help the team prepare for the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers.

The first match takes place this evening at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground in Linden when the Golden Jaguars will clash with Cuba, the Caribbean’s number one ranked football team.

The second match will take place at the GCC Ground, Bourda, on Sunday afternoon at 3pm.

Speaking about the series, Digicel Head of Marketing, Donovan White said, “Digicel’s sponsorship of the series of international friendlies is directly in keeping with the overall commitment made to the GFF for the development of football in Guyana. Guyana now has its best ever chance in advancing in the rankings and in its quest for a World Cup place and Digicel is delighted in being a part of this.”

White added that, “our commitment to football as a whole is further demonstrated by the just concluded Digicel Kick Start Clinics which were launched in Guyana and our role as sponsor of the region’s premier’s football tournaments”

In addition to the Digicel Caribbean Cup, Digicel has extended its commitment to the “beautiful game” throughout the CONCACAF region, supporting the Copa de Naciones Digicel, Central America’s leading football competition which provides qualifiers from that region for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, and national football teams in many of its 23 markets such as Haiti, Jamaica, Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, El Salvador and Turks & Caicos.

Digicel recently announced its sponsorship of the GFF for a period of three years. The sponsorship package includes financing for the GFF’s programme and supporting the promotion of the game across the country.

GFF President Colin Klass said that this series is a part of turning promises into reality.

“Digicel has made promises to football in Guyana and we are seeing the reality now. The Guyana national team needs as much international exposure and competition as possible if we are going to meet our objectives, and this series will allow us to assess the team’s development to date,” said Klass.

The Cuban team which was scheduled to arrive last night will depart Guyana after the second game on Sunday. The Cuban contingent will include 18 players, and a seven-member management team that includes the Technical Director and coaches.

As part of the Digicel International Football Experience, there will be a text and win offer which started yesterday and ends on Sunday where customers can text their prediction of scores to 1444 and get an opportunity to win a Sony Ericsson W810i plus $2000 credit and $50,000 cash. Patrons wearing red will also get a chance to win exciting prizes.