Scholarships to the University of Guyana will be on offer for five exceptional players in the second staging of the Milo U-20 school football competition which kicks off next Saturday at the Ministry of Education ground.
The first prize is also up from last year with one of the 24 competing schools in this year’s tournament, pocketing the $500,000 first prize which will go towards a school project.
Last year’s winner received $200,000.
These and other facts were disclosed yesterday when the PETRA Organisation in partnership with Beepat’s Trading unveiled their plans for the round-robin tournament which concludes on April 5.
According to co-director of the PETRA Organisation, Troy Mendonca, the aim of the tournament is to “resuscitate sport at the youth level.
“We recognized that the Georgetown teams did not do so well in the Digicel school wide tournament so I’m glad we were able to move the sponsorship from the club level to the schools level and we saw St. George’s making it to the final four so I hope we continue in the same vein.”
He added: “This year we will also be looking to provide five scholarships to the University of Guyana for five outstanding players.”
Mendonca also thanked the media and the other stakeholders who were present at yesterday’s launch.
During the launch, Milo’s Brand Manager, Renita Sital stated that Beepat’s… “Is very pleased to be sponsoring another tournament.” Sital also underscored the importance of school tournaments which she stated was to develop the youths to hopefully become professional players.
The competing teams are defending champions, St. George’s Secondary, Bishops’ High School, Carmel Secondary, Central High School, Charlestown Secondary School, Chase’s Academy, Christ Church Secondary, Cummings Lodge Secondary, David Rose, Dolphin Secondary, Lodge Secondary, New Campbellville Secondary, North Georgetown Secondary, North Ruimveldt Secondary, Queen’s College, Richard Ishmael Secondary, South Ruimveldt Secondary, St. Winifred’s Secondary, Tucville High, Tutorial High, Ascension Secondary/St. Joseph High, Guyana Education Trust College/St. Mary’s, Sophia Special School/ Freeburg Secondary, St. John’s College and Kingston High.
The final eight teams in bold will lock horns today and the four winners will join the other 20 schools to vie for the spoils.
Following today’s games, the remaining 24 competing schools will be placed in six groups of four and from there the tournament officially starts. Four games will be played each weekend from 11:00hrs.
$300,000 will go the first runner up while $200,000 and $100,000 will be awarded to the third and fourth place institutions.
Individual awards will also go to the MVP, the player with the most goals, the best goal keeper and coach.
Inga Henry, Physical Education Officer of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health’s Deputy Permanent Secretary, Trevor Thomas and Beepat’s Treion D’Anjou also made brief remarks.
PETRA’s Angeline Dyer-McCarthy gave the vote of thanks.
