JANUARY 26, 2012 | BY KAIETEUR NEWS
Senior, junior & female tourneys planned for 1st quarter
The Berbice Football Association (BFA) in a bid to be more competitive at the national level is leaving no stones unturned in their quest to achieve that goal.
To this end, the Executive of the BFA has organised a number of tournaments for senior, junior and female players for the following months.
Set to kick off their season this weekend, is the Annual Cheddi Jagan Memorial competition that will attract the eight (8) senior teams in the Ancient County, namely; New Amsterdam United, Monedderlust, Rosignol United, Pistons United, Cougars, Courtland, Manchester and Hardliners.
Matches will be contested at the Blairmont Community Centre Ground with double headers set for each day starting at 13:00hrs.
Monedderlust will square off with Manchester United in the first game on Saturday followed by a clash between New Amsterdam United and Hardliners.
On Sunday, Pistons United will match skills with Cougars in the opening game with the main event featuring Rosignol United against Courtland United. Games will continue on February 4, 5 and 12.
Janet Jagan Memorial – Female Schools Tournament
Determined to make a greater impact in the world of female football and to ensure that they are well represented at the national level, the BFA will run off a 3-day female Inter-School tournament that will be played in the month of March at the All Saints Presbyterian Ground (Scotts School) in preparation for the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) national tournament.
Games will be played on March 9, 10 and 17 among Schools in Regions #5 and #6.
At the end of the tournament, the BFA will select a female squad to represent Berbice in the GFF’s Annual Inter-Association tournament which commences on April 7, 2012 at Bartica.
Two weekend encampments will be held to facilitate team training and chemistry ahead of the GFF competition. The first camp is planned from Friday March 30 to Sunday April 1, 2012 at the Guyana Teacher’s Union (GTU) Hall, Vryman’s Erven, New Amsterdam.
Ms. Onefa George, a Teacher of Berbice High School; GFF/FIFA trained Grassroots Coach and Acting Director of Female Football in the BFA will be in charge of organising for the tournament and the preparation of the BFA team.
Under-17 Competition
With the GFF already notifying associations of the male Under-17 competition that will kick off on March 11, the BFA will run off their competition to select their team on February 18 and 19 at the Blairmont Community Centre Ground.
Players on show in this tournament will not only be aiming to win the competition for their respective clubs but will also be seeking to catch the eyes of the selectors who will be naming the BFA squad for the GFF tourney. Like the females, there will be weekend camps thereafter to facilitate further preparation. Only players born on or after January 1, 1996 will be eligible to compete.
Under-20 Competition
Male Under-20 rivalry at the Inter-Association level is slated to start March 18. The BFA will run off their inter-club tourney on the weekend of February 25 and 26 at the Blairmont Community Centre Ground. Players again, will be vying for club honours and a place in the association squad. Weekend training will also follow and for players to be eligible, they must be born on January 1, 1993 or after.
National Super League Playoffs
New Amsterdam United (NAU) begins their quest for a place in the National Super League when they clash with East Bank FA’s Grove Hi Tec on Sunday February 12 from 15:00hrs at the Diamond Community Centre Ground, East Bank of Demerara.
NAU will next play West Demerara’s Den Amstel at the Uitvlugt Community Centre Ground on the West Coast of Demerara on Sunday February 19 from 15:00hrs.
That will be followed by a game on Sunday 26 at the Blairmont Ground when they welcome Bartica’s Mill Ballers.