Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) and the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) are promising a bigger and better GT&T Cell Link Plus Premier league in 2008 at a new venue.
At the presentation of prizes for the 2007 tournament and press conference to launch the 2008 League, GT&T’s Marketing Director Wystan Robertson disclosed that the first prize had been increased to $1/2 million dollars, an increase by 100 percent.
It was also disclosed that the League would be played at the Tucville ground in East La Penitence, moving from the regular Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground.
Robertson praised the organizers for a well run tournament last year adding that his company was so convinced that they have decided to retain sponsorship of the League this year.
“At this time when football administrators are getting a lot of licks, there is an administration within football that can get the job done,” Robertson said of the GFA.
According to Robertson, he looks forward to see the League growing from strength to strength and expressed GT&T’s commitment to the development of football and sports in general.
He also added his voice to the call for football to secure its own ground citing last year’s tournament when the organizers were turned away from playing the final set of matches at Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground.
Robertson also offered his congratulations to the teams, officials, administrations and members of the media for their support during last year’s tournament.
GFA General Secretary Marlon Cole disclosed that matches for 2008 will be played at the Tucville ground as more facilities had been added to that venue recently, but no date for the start of the tournament was revealed.
He said that spectators and players were deprived of basic facilities for matches at GFC.
“Facilities for spectators especially females and families continue to be of concern to us.” The GFA during last season had utilized a substantial sum of its earnings from spectators towards the rental of the GFC.
According to Cole, the Tucville ground had been significantly improved with the help of the government and other key stakeholders including, Fruta Conquerors Club, Guyana Beverage Company and National Milling Company (Namilco).
“It is our sincere wish that to continue this developmental process with the help of our sponsors for tournaments and corporate Guyana, as such 75 per cent of proceeds collected from fans in the GT&T Premier League 2008 will be used to guarantee the satisfaction and comfort of fans, players and match officials,” Cole disclosed.
GFA President Troy Mendonca thanked GT&T for showing faith in his administration who secured the sponsorships just weeks after they took office.
He also expressed gratitude to the players and officials for their support during last year’s League.
He said the GFA was working closely with GT&T to develop the Tucville ground and there were plans to donate six balls to each team.
Mendonca offered praise to Alpha United coach Wayne Dover who he said did an excellent job with his team, “Alpha is the most technical team, they are well drilled and much disciplined.”
He said the budget to run off this year’s League was $4.5 million.
Alpha United retained the League title with 28 points from a possible 42.
Pele football Club placed second with 26 points and they played unbeaten throughout the tournament.
Alpha United was also voted the best offensive team with 28 goals, while Pele was adjudged the best defensive team having conceded only eight goals in two rounds of action.
The best goalkeeper was Shemroy Arthur of Pele, the highest goal scorer was Troy Prescod of Sunburst Camptown, while the League’s most valuable player (MVP) was Philbert Moffat of Alpha United.
Eight teams took part in the 2007 league which produced 154 goals.
It was revealed that Uprising and GFC have been promoted to the Premier league for 2008 while Western Tigers and Guyana Police Force have been relegated to division one.
