Namilco Football Festival kick-off draws near

As time draws near to the commencement of the Fruta Conquerors Football Club (FC) organized 2008 Guyana National Milling Company (Namilco) Football Festival where all games are going to be contested at the now trendy Tucville playfield, the FC is knotting all ends with their sponsors.

General Manager of the Oasis Water Company and Vice President of the Georgetown Football Association Wayne Ford (R) makes a presentation to Vice President of  Fruta Conquerors Marla Cole (L) in aid of a supply of water for the tournament.
General Manager of the Oasis Water Company and Vice President of the Georgetown Football Association Wayne Ford (R) makes a presentation to Vice President of Fruta Conquerors Marla Cole (L) in aid of a supply of water for the tournament.

The official launching ceremony of the annual tournament is scheduled to take place today in the boardroom of Namilco, Agricola, East Bank Demerara where they will be handing over their sponsorship cheque for the tourney while the tournament will kick-off on Friday, October 24.

To ensure the smooth running of the tournament, the FC also has co-sponsors  onboard such as Global Technology, Oasis Water, 2J’s General Store, Juniors Jewellery, Swansea, GT&T, Banks DIH Limited, Ministry of Health, Guyana Beverage Company, Guyana Times and Hits and Jams Television.

Since the inauguration of the competition in 2004 no team has successfully defended the Namilco title.  Western Tigers won the inaugural title, Pele took the crown one year later, Alpha ‘the Hammer’ United  were the champs in 2006 and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) won the 2007 tournament.

Sixteen teams will be competing this year for the top prize of $400,000 along with the Namilco trophy. Nine Georgetown teams, three teams each from the East Coast of Demerara and Berbice and one team from the mining town of Linden will form the pool of competitors.

This tournament is the Fruta Conquerors main fundraising activity for the year.  The funding received for this tournament will be used to improve the lighting capacity on the Tucville playfield and also to establish a Club House Factory Centre on the ground, a new washroom facility and a pavilion possibly before the end of the year.