Play in the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports Inter-Block football tournament will commence for this year on April 18 at Beterverwagting (BV).
Steve Ninvalle
Kaieteur Sport contacted Parliamentary Secretary within the ministry, Steve Ninvalle, who was in Miami, and was told that the tournament will take in several new areas.
Ninvalle, who was instrumental in organising and liaising with various representatives from the respective areas to see the event successfully staged last year, disclosed that action will take place in Berbice and Bartica, areas they were not able to run off the Inter-Block in last year, this time round.
Play is fixed for Regions 1, 8 and 9 also. Ministry coach, Dennis ‘Chow’ Hunte will again conduct several coaching sessions in areas around the country and ministry officials including Ninvalle are down to visit. The ministry will also attempt to donate sports equipment including footballs in some areas also.
Last year the event was a resounding success with tournaments in several East Coast Demerara villages, starting at BV and also included Buxton, Plaisance, Victoria and Mahaicony among others.
Ninvalle expressed the desire to see the event being staged in Berbice despite Coach Hunte conducting sessions there last year. This year however, the PS confirmed that Berbice and Bartica will host tournaments there.
The programme is aimed at developing the game at the grassroots level and is part of the ministry’s contribution to not only improving football, but fostering relationships among youths and providing healthy competition for them.