Last week’s launch of the Scotia/Pepsi Schools Football Academy and plans for a grassroots countrywide football programme in April are encouraging signs and have the potential to tap in on the embryonic stage of sport locally.
Both programmes are geared to fill a much needed void in areas that are generally overlooked – schools football development and grassroots programmes.
The Academy, a pilot project coordinated by the United States –based Guyana Sports Development Foundation (GSDF) and local stakeholders is geared at targeting students both boys and girls between the ages of 10-15 years from ten schools in a comprehensive programme of football and academic.
Meanwhile, the FIFA/GFF grassroot initiative, expected to come on stream in April, will target a number of young footballers from around the country as well as parents and other related person.
According to assistant general secretary of the GFF George Rutherford 200 persons in each area will be invited to take part in the programme.
Not very often are these opportunities available locally so it is imperative for the major stakeholders to grasp at the prospects.
The Academy is already off and running following a three-day entry level coaching course attracting 22 teachers from secondary schools in Georgetown and conducted by United States-based Stanley Harmon, a member of the GSDF.
The teachers will then actively prepare their schools for a tournament later in the programme while some of the students will be trained to perform duties as assistant referees at matches.
As part of the criteria the students must attend school regularly and show an interest in their school work.
Colin Baker, a director of the GSDF said the idea of an Academy was conceived three years ago but there were some initial setbacks but he is now overwhelmed with joy that the programne is finally up and running.
Baker said the Academy has the potential to influence positively on football locally since players and he highlighted areas such as scholarships being awarded to successful students.
Other stakeholders include the Ministries of Education and Sports, the GFF, alumni associations of some of the participating schools and the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU).
According to Baker, while Scotia Bank and Demerara Distillers Ltd. (DDL) through its Pepsi brand have come forward to sponsor key elements of the programme other funded is needed especially in outfitting the participating schools for the tournament.
Scotia Bank and DDL saw the potential of such an Academy and they have taken the lead in sponsoring the programme, but what about the rest of corporate Guyana?
Similar programmes are held around the world and they receive widespread corporate support, in many instances companies sponsor schools based in their communities, a plan that could be adopted here.
It is a great initiative brought to Guyana by the GSDF since most sports disciplines in the United States are built on similar foundations.
While the Academy is the brainchild on the GSDF, the ministries of Education and Sport and the GFF must seize the opportunity to work together to ensure that the Academy is expanded throughout the length and breadth of this country as envisaged by Director of Sport Neil Kumar.
The foundation has been laid and it is now the responsibility of local stakeholders to nurture its growth.
