Increased incentives promised as lucrative tournament looms

Jan 26, 2013 Sports

Officials of NAMILCO including Managing Director Bert Sukhai (3rd left), Fruta Conquerors, GFF and GFA officials at yesterday’s launch which saw the symbolic hand over of the sponsorship cheque.

By Michael Benjamin

In 2007 the Fruta Conquerors Football Club launched the inaugural edition of their premiere championship; then dubbed, ‘The Guyana Football Festival,’ with exclusive sponsorship from the National Milling Company (NAMILCO). At that time the teams competed for just over $1.6 million in cash and kind.
Since then, the tournament has grown in stature prompting the sponsors to increase the prize money even as the footballers, buoyed by the support, get ready to turn in masterful performances.
Indeed, 6 years after that historic launch, Managing Director of NAMILCO, Bert Sukhai, has acquiesced to a further increase in the prize monies and the ballweavers now have the impetus to battle furiously following the announcement that they are now competing for more than $4.5 million dollars.
This much was revealed when the principals convened in the boardroom of NAMILCO’s Eccles ECD headquarters yesterday afternoon to launch the 7th edition of the tournament, to be contested under the theme, ‘The NAMILCO One Love Football Classic.’
The winning team will take home $1.2M while the runners up pockets half that amount. The third and fourth place finishers receive $400,000 and $200,000 respectively.
The forum was graced by Managing Director (NAMILCO) Bert Sukhai, President (ag) of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Franklyn Wilson, President of Fruta Conquerors, Wayne Forde and his Secretary, Daniel Thomas, Vice President of the Guyana Football Association, Rawle Adams, Chief Engineer (NAMILCO), Ralph Hemsing and Financial Advisor (NAMILCO), Fitzroy McLeod.
Mr. McLeod, lauded the input of Fruta Conquerors President Wayne Forde in the successful staging of the tournament over the years even as he noted a similar contribution by past President, Marlon Cole. He said that while his superiors have unselfishly supported the tournament and while they are uninterested in monetary returns, their vested interest lies in the holistic development of the club, its players and those of the participating teams.
“We envisage a high quality of competitive play from all teams that will set a harmonious tone for players and fans alike,” exhorted Mr. McLeod. He also lauded the input of the media even as he beseeched its continued support. He said that such support created the ambiance that’s critical to the success of the tournament. “When this tournament would have concluded we would like to attest to its achievement of several goals,” said the Financial Controller. Among those goals are measured benefits for the winning team and the Tucville community (where the venue resides), triumph for all other stakeholders and by extension a triumph for all Guyanese.”
The financial controller reminded that NAMILCO’s contribution was a reciprocal gesture bolstered by the support received from the very communities that purchase its products.
President of Fruta Conquerors FC, Wayne Forde, was equally grateful for the continued support and relayed such sentiments to the NAMILCO boss.
“Over the past five years NAMILCO has faithfully committed time, thought and enormous resources to a sport that has the potential to single handedly transform the lives of many individuals and their communities but too many times finds itself languishing in a tumultuous fog of contempt, lethargy and instigated division,” he lamented. He said that this year’s provides the perfect opportunity for all football affiliates to proclaim the end of those dark days. He said that the experience, though bitter, turned out to be rewarding. “We have learnt and we have grown and are ready to give NAMILCO, our loyal fans and the nation, a tournament that transcends the true spirit of the beautiful game of football,” concluded Mr. Forde.
Mr. Adams apologized for the absence of President of the GFA, Vernon Burnette due to pressing commitments elsewhere. He lauded the maturity that saw a favourable resolution to the recent impasse between the GFA and the GFF. He then congratulated the organizers even as he urged the footballers to aspire to give of their best.
His sentiments were echoed by Mr. Wilson who viewed the tournament as the perfect stage setter for future competitions over the year. “The GFF wishes all of the participating teams the best of luck and urge them to play fair; May the best team win,” advocated the GFF boss. Mr. Sukhai in very brief remarks urged the players to play hard and within the confines of the rules and fair play.
The tournament would encompass the involvement of teams from five sub associations competing in a knockout tournament over 8 competitive playing days. The grand final and the 3rd place playoff are scheduled for one day after Mashramani day. Matches will be played at the Tucville Ground even as administrators mull other venues.