The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) in collaboration with the National Milling Company of Guyana (NAMILCO) will officially launch its Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 Intra-Association Football League today at the National Racquet Centre, Woolford Avenue and Camp Road, Georgetown. The National Milling Company of Guyana (NAMILCO) is the exclusive sponsor of this tournament which is expected to commence on May 7 next and conclude in June 2017 with a break in November – December 2016.
It will be managed by and simultaneously run in the nine (9) football-playing associations affiliated to the GFF at the Intra-Association level. These associations include Bartica Football Association (BFA), Berbice Football Association (BFA), East Demerara Football Association (EDFA), East Bank Football Association (EBFA), Essequibo Coast/Pomeroon Football Association, Georgetown Football Association (GFA), Repununi Football Association (RFA), Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) and the West Demerara Football Association.
The launch is scheduled to begin at 16:00hrs and is expected to last for approximately one hour. It will feature representatives from both the GFF and NAMILCO with the feature address set to be delivered by the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnarine, who will officially declare open the league. In addition, the programme will feature skills display by some participants of the Under-17 tournament as well as the musical renditions by the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School.
In an invited comment, Mr. Bert Sukhai, Managing Director of NAMILCO, said that his company is pleased to be associated with the GFF as the proud sponsor of the Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 Tournament and expressed his expectations of the tournament.
“This tournament promises to be a landmark in Guyana and the Guyana Football Federation’s football development programme and aligns with NAMILCO’s traditional focus on the development of youths through education, sport and facilitating the work of various Non-Governmental Organizations. We expect that this tournament will provide an unrivalled national effort in the identification, exposure and development of Guyana’s football talent in a critical age, and to be the foundation on which Guyana future football successes will be built.” NAMILCO has for 47 years been Guyana’s main provider of wholesome and nutritious wheaten flour products (including Thunderbolt and Maid Marian flour) and a line of healthy and convenient value added products including Pholourie and Roti Mixes, Wheat up, Whole wheat and Harvest High Fibre flour.
NAMILCO has also supported through sponsorship, other sporting events including Cycling, Track and Field, Cricket and Swimming, educational institutions including the University of Guyana and made significant contributions to health care and charitable organisations.