Rupununi Football Association launches GFF Grassroots Programme with 65 young aspiring Boys and Girls

Sep 22, 2023 Sports

Kaieteur Sports – Lethem – The Rupununi Football Association (RFA) kicked off their Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Grassroots programme on September 17 with a total of sixty-five eager aspiring boys and girls between five and twelve years old.

Every Sunday over the next three months, enthusiastic youngsters from various communities including Lethem, Tabatinga and Culvert City will be taught the fundamentals of football from 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. at the Wadapna Sports Ground in Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

GFF President Wayne Forde officially launched the national initiative in early August with the distribution of essential gear to all Regional Associations through the Members Finance Assistance Programme (M-FAP).

The main aim of the introductory sessions is to cultivate a passion for football and provide valuable developmental opportunities for aspiring young footballers. According to RFA President Norbert Williams, the introduction of M-FAP in 2021 has had a profound effect on the advancement of the Rupununi football programme, particularly at the grassroots level.

Participants in the Rupununi youth football camp take a photo.

“Football is the passion of the Rupununi and we want our children to learn how to play from a young age. This is why we are so happy to organise the GFF grassroots programme in every part of our region,” he shared, adding that the “GFF M-FAP programme is helping us to improve football in a big way. We now have our own minibus, which is allowing our Academy Training Centre (ATC) coaches to visit each sub-district to organise the grassroots programme and scout talented boys and girls.”

Rupununi youngsters take part in ball drills during the programme.

The initiative, which is expected to continue every Sunday until December, will be launched in other areas in the Rupununi later this month.

Training sessions in Lethem are being conducted by four volunteer coaches, including former Golden Jaguars Dexter Bentick, who is also the Youth Developmental Officer of the Rupununi Academy Training Centre. Boys and girls will have the opportunity to learn basic techniques, coordination, teamwork, and sportsmanship while enjoying the sport they love.

GFF President Wayne Forde praised the RFA for their outstanding efforts in effectively utilising M-FAP to successfully host initiatives that foster the growth and development of young players.

“The Rupununi Football Association is among the best examples of how some regional Associations are taking full advantage of the M-FAP programme and maximising the value of our investment,” Forde said.

He added that “grassroots is where the dream begins for every child that comes into contact with football at an early age. That is why we are investing so heavily in grassroots football nationwide. Through M-FAP, more coaches are being trained to deliver grassroots sessions and more equipment are being distributed to our Regional Associations so that they can successfully implement this programme.”

The initiative has been well-received and successfully completed in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) by the Bartica Football Association (BFA). The GFF remains committed to the advancement and promotion of football countrywide by providing strategic support through M-FAP to its members in the areas of Administration and Operations, Equipment and Material, Competition and Technical Development, and Infrastructure Development.

• grassroots, Guyana Football Federation (GFF), programme, Region Nine, Wadapna Sports Ground