Latest update April 13th, 2025 6:34 AM
Young Achievers, PMTC, GDF and Vanguard to battle T&T’s Big Sepos and Suriname’s Yelyco
GVF 2nd Invitational Int. Club Festival…
By Franklin Wilson
The National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue in the City is expected to be volleyball headquarters over the weekend when the Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF) in association with its top three local clubs host their International Volleyball Festival featuring the top club from Suriname and the Twin Island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, respectively.
Following tomorrow evening’s opening ceremony at 17:00hrs there will be no holding back as the team’s battle for supremacy in what is anticipated to be keen rivalry in a festive but professional atmosphere.
GVF President Lennie Shuffler (right) and VP for Technical Development, Capt. John Flores at yesterday’s press briefing.
This tournament according to GVF Vice President for Technical Development, Capt. John Flores at a press briefing yesterday at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, forms part of the federations Bloc Development Plan designed to promote increased activity among neighbouring countries at an affordable cost, and to provide international exposure for Guyanese players.
All the attention will not be on the male players as the recently formed Vanguard Female team; made up of past and present Under-19 players as well as some seasoned campaigners will be throwing down the gauntlet to the Yelvco Female team of Suriname.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Big Sepos will arrive in Guyana this evening, while Yelvco’s male and female teams will be arriving tomorrow morning. Both these teams are no strangers to these shores and have both stated their pleasure of coming yet again to compete.
Big Sepos were in the final of the inaugural tournament last year against Roraima of Brazil while Yelvco is the leading club side in Suriname.
The local teams that will be aiming to win this festival are the best in the land, led by West Demerara’s Young Achievers, Port Mourant Training Centre the best in the Ancient County of Berbice and a Guyana Defence Force Combined Team.
All the local teams have been undergoing intense training and are eager to get their competition game on, fans, supporters and lovers of the game are being encouraged to come out and lend support to the locals whilst enjoying top class volleyball, admission is free.
The preliminary stage of the male competition will be done using the round-robin format while the female teams will be engaged in a Goodwill series, one game each day.
Matches will serve off after tomorrow afternoon’s opening ceremony at 17:00hrrs and will continue on Saturday from 10:00hrs until 20:00hrs. The semis and respective finals will be contested on Sunday beginning at 11:00hrs with the closing ceremony set for Sunday evening at 19:00hrs.
According to GVF President, Lennie Schuffler, the festival is a partnership between the federation and the local clubs.
“What we have here is a partnership between the GVF and these three local teams who were given the opportunity to invite a team of their choice. This presented a very good opportunity for them to get into the idea of hosting teams and sharing the costs with the GVF, this is one way of reducing our costs and sharing knowledge.”
The GVF boss also noted that there will be exposure for Coaches and Referees. Trophies have been donated by the Trophy Stall and the GVF. Other corporate entities on board include John Fernandes and Digicel.
While this is the only international tournament under the auspices of the GVF this year, Shuffler informed that they will be organizing another tournament for local teams before the end of the year featuring teams from Berbice and Demerara.
Efforts are being made to revive the sport in the Cinderella County of Essequibo, the process has already begun.
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