Guyana’s U-16 footballers to face Trinidadian counterparts Youth Academy Cup

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) will host the inaugural Youth Academy Cup starting July 16th. The tournament features Guyana’s top Under-16 players facing off against two youth academies from Trinidad and Tobago.

Guyana will be represented by two teams – the Guyana Jaguars and Guyana Panthers. These teams will comprise players selected from the Academy Training Centre (ATC) programme and the Under-16 National Team.

Their opponents will be the Point Fortin Youth Football Academy and Tinto’s Sporting Academy from Trinidad and Tobago.

All matches will be held at the GFF’s National Training Centre in Providence, East Bank Demerara, from July 16th to 21st.

GFF Technical Director Bryan Joseph highlighted the endorsement of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) for the participation of their youth academies. Teams from Trinidad and Tobago are expected to arrive on July 15th.

“We’ve struggled to provide international competition for our youth players within Guyana,” Joseph stated. “This tournament allows local fans to see our next generation. We aim to build on this success and potentially incorporate more regional teams and age groups.”

A total of eight games are scheduled, promising an intense competition. The tournament will follow a round-robin format, with the top two teams facing off in the final on July 21st.

The remaining teams will compete for third place. Each team will play four matches throughout the competition, with points awarded as follows: 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss. Matches will consist of two 40-minute halves.

GFF President Wayne Forde expressed confidence in the young players. “Our ATC program players have already proven themselves nationally,” he said. “This cup offers them a valuable opportunity to compete against talented Trinidadian counterparts.”

Launched in February 2017, the ATC programme provides a structured pathway for players to progress towards national teams.

Tailored for players aged five to seventeen, the programme operates through academies within the GFF’s nine member associations. It has already contributed to the success of youth teams and national tournaments.

The GFF encourages football enthusiasts to rally behind Guyana’s teams during the inaugural Youth Academy Cup.