GFF to collaborate with gov’t to deliver FIFA-sponsored Football for Schools programme

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) met with the Government of Guyana (GoG) on Wednesday to commence the consultation process for national approval required to accept FIFA’s offer for Guyana to become the first CARICOM member to benefit from the Football for Schools programme.

This was confirmed by an official release from the federation. According to the correspondence, the programme, which will see FIFA providing financial, technical and logistical support to establish sustainable football initiatives and competitions in primary and secondary schools globally, requires a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the GFF and GoG, the creating of a national steering committee and an agreed list of participating schools.

GFF President, Wayne Forde, met with Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr; Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Kashif Muhammad; Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle; and Assistant Director of Sport, Melissa Dow-Richardson, to discuss the details of the MoU and the composition of the steering committee.

Forde will appoint the chair of the committee, which will include representatives from the GFF, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, the National Sports Commission, Private Sector, and the football fraternity.

According to Forde, “We are honoured and deeply proud that Guyana has been selected by FIFA as a role model member association to become the first CARICOM nation to benefit from the FIFA for Schools programme. FIFA and the GFF are eager to move forward as swiftly as possible in partnership with the Government of Guyana, so that this important programme can be delivered for the new school year in September 2022.”

He further said, “It is crucial that we are able to meet the strict criteria stipulated by FIFA for its development activities, and this meeting with government has helped us move forward in securing the support and resources required to deliver the programme successfully.”

“With expert help from the world governing body of football, and with all eyes in the region on us as the first CARICOM nation to participate, Guyana has a golden opportunity to transform its school sports agenda and to further cement its reputation as a premier destination for football development in the Caribbean,” he declared.

“The next steps in the process include finalising and signing the MoU, appointing the steering committee and providing FIFA with the list of primary and secondary schools that will benefit. FIFA Football for Schools, in collaboration with UNESCO, aims to contribute to the education, development and empowerment of around 700 million children. It seeks to make football more accessible to both boys and girls by incorporating football activities into the education system, in partnership with relevant authorities and stakeholders”, the release informed.