Second Annual Milo Secondary Schools Football Tournament launched

Feb 08, 2014 Sports

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The 2nd Annual Milo Secondary Schools Football Competition was launched yesterday, during a simple ceremony that was conducted in the Boardroom of Beepat Ltd on Regent Street.
In attendance were Co-Director of Petra Organisation Troy Mendonca, Nestle representatives Brand Manager (Milo)- Renita Sital, Brand Manager (Nestle Beverages)- Treion D’Angou, Ministry of Education through its Allied Arts Department- Inger Harry, Assistant Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health- Trevor Thomas, Petra representative- Angeline Dyer-McCarthy and Referees representative Wayne Griffith.

Mendonca, who opened the proceedings, spoke of the history of the tournament and its purpose which he stated was to resuscitate the standard of the game at the junior level within the Georgetown environs.
He said that while there has been an upsurge in tournaments over the past four years, the standard of the game at the junior level among the schools in Georgetown left much to be desired and in order to fill that void and improve the quality of play they (Petra Organisation) approached the corporate community for its support and the rest is history.
“We’ve had the Digicel nationwide tournament and more recently the Kashif & Shanghai Competition and while they’ve been able to lift the standard in Georgetown, the top teams except for St. George’s our defending champions came from the other Regions,” Mendonca noted.
Mendonca, however, implored on the students to stay in school, adding that academic achievements are equally important as their on-field exploits, adding that the two go hand in hand and represent the catalyst for success.
He disclosed that the Organisation is currently in consultations with the Public Service Ministry to explore the possibility of five players coming out of the tournament being granted scholarships to attend the University of Guyana.
Harry in her remarks said that the Ministry was exceedingly pleased to be asociated with the tournament, especially since it merges sports with academia, adding that the combination usually produces success, particularly when it is supported by parents.
Thomas, who had a lenghty presentation on a very important topic which dealt with Gender-based Violence, spoke of the eagerness of his Ministry to collaborate with the Petra Organisation and Beepat, especially on the issue of preserving the total well being of each other.
He congratulated the Organisers for partnering with the Ministry of Health in helping to reach an audience that is very important to spread the message.
Thomas said the tournament, while it only caters at this time for schools in the Georgetown environ, is quite a timely one with the audience being the participants and the spectators it is one that is percieved to be macho and therefore it is important that the message reaches them, while cautioning that they are not necessarily the only target group.
“Football is a sport that could provide a good opportunity to spread the message and while Gender-based Violence is sometimes glamourised and promoted through music as well, the sport because it is played by boys and men somehow has this tough guys label attached to it where many feel that things ought to be settled physically.”
Sital acting on behalf of the sponsor said they were happy to be on board and they are looking forward to a good tournament.
D’Anjou said the Company was extremely happy to be afforded the opportunity to be back on board and was equally happy to be able to showcase the message being promoted by the Ministry as well as the talent that reside among the junior footballers.
Meanwhile, the playoffs to select the four teams that will join the other twenty in the twenty-four team tournament will commence today, at the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue, starting at 11:00hrs.
The eight teams vying for four spots are: Ascension, St. Joseph’s, Guyana Educational Trust College, St. Mary’s, Sophia Special School, Freeburg, St. John’s College and Kingston High.
The twenty teams already in the tournament are: Bishop’s High, Carmel, Central High, Charlestown, Chase Academy, Christ Church, Cummings Lodge, David Rose, Dolphin, Lodge, New Campbellville, North Georgetown, North Ruimveldt, Queen’s College, Richard Ishmael, South Ruimveldt, St. George’s, St. Winefride, Tucville and Tutorial.
The winning team will receive $500,000, runner-up- $300,000, 3rd place- $200,000 and 4th place- $100,000, while there will be prizes for outstanding individual performances.
All the winning teams will have to choose a project of their choice to benefit the school since no monetary prizes will be awarded.
The tournament starts from February 15 and runs until April 5.

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