The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) officially launched the National Milling Company (NAMILCO) Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 League Saturday at the National Training Centre, Providence.
The event, which is scheduled to commence shortly, will feature play in every regional association with the respective winners advancing to the National Playoffs. Region #1 (Barima-Waini), who is currently being assessed as a possible 10th regional member association, will feature in the event. The competition will also coincide with the upcoming Concacaf boy’s U17 championships scheduled for Florida in August.
Namilco Finance Controller Fitzroy McLeod said, “We certainly are buoyed by the experiences that we’ve had in the past. So, we look forward to continued success and continued growth. On behalf of the management and staff, we certainly ask that you youngsters, in who, we’re making this investment, you not only work hard and acquit yourselves of these opportunities, but you will also conduct yourselves in a way that brings credit to the tournament, to the teams, and to your communities.”
GFF President Wayne Forde thanked the company for its continued partnership, adding that notable players such as Jeremy Garrett, Omari Glasgow, and Ryan Hackett are products of the programme.
He declared, “When my executive came into office in late 2015, we engaged with the Managing Director, Mr. Bert Sukhai, Finance Controller Mr. Fitzroy McLeod, and Head Engineer Ralph Hemsing at Namilco, and we shared with them the direction that we wanted to take Guyana’s football. That direction had a strong emphasis on youth development, and I am convinced as I was then and even now, that that resonated very well with the leadership of the National Milling Company. Thereafter, we saw the birth of the first youth development, Nationwide, Intra-Association league that was launched by my administration in partnership with the National Milling Company of Guyana.”
GFF Assistant Technical Director, Brian Joseph, said, “This Namilco championships gives our boys a great opportunity to have some game time in their legs. It also gives us an opportunity to be able to scout additional players across the country so that we can strengthen our team.”
