First four matches kicking off in BV

The Ministry of Sport will kick off its second inter-block football tournament with four teams on April 26 at Beterverwagting (BV).

According to Joseph ‘Bill’ Wilson who is tasked with running the event in BV, the community is excited about the tournament. He said fans turned out to support the games last year and the event was a major success. Wilson said too the community is pleased to be hosting the games again this year.

The format for the games in BV includes separating it into four blocks: Block A will comprise Housing Scheme, Quamina Road, Republic Drive and Market Street; Block B, Triumph, Market Street, Railway Embankment and Republic Drive; Block C, Ujaama Housing Scheme, Market Street and Canterbury Walk and Block D, Market Street, Sideline Dam and Oronoque Street.

The opening matches will be played under floodlights and will see Block C tackling Block B and Block A coming up against Block D. The ministry has donated a number of balls to the various teams to help with preparations. It will not be giving monetary prizes but trophies and medals will be up for grabs.

Ministry of Sport football coach Dennis ‘Chow’ Hunte hands over a number of footballs to Coordinator for the BV inter-block football competition Joseph Wilson. (Photo by Orlando Charles)

Parliamentary Secretary Steve Ninvalle told reporters at a simple briefing last week that the ministry is not offering monetary prizes because it is operating with a tight budget in order to host the competition countrywide. However, he said monetary support from businesses is welcome. “If a businessman feels that he wants to put some money into it, we will certainly welcome it. As a matter of fact they should want to give back because it’s a community project. And if they are living in the community, they should support the players because the players and their families support them everyday,” he said.

The event will be held in several East Coast communities and will next be held at Victoria. Ninvalle said the ministry plans to take the sport as far as Lethem and other hinterland areas and, for the first time, the contest will be held in Berbice and Bartica. Twenty-five communities have been targeted and the games will be held until November month-end.

Ninvalle said too that the ministry will also be focusing on Linden as it plans to continue to develop women’s football in the community. He said enough effort is not being put into developing women’s football and he intends to use his chair to focus on this initiative.

On conclusion of the inter-block tournament the ministry will host a grand inter-village tournament. Plans are also in train to host an inter-block basketball tournament nationwide.