GDF FC Crowned GFF U17 Youth Ensemble Elite League Champions

October 19, 2026, Georgetown – The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) FC have been crowned
champions of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) U17 Youth Ensemble Elite League Club
Competition following the conclusion of the tournament on October 17 at the Western Tigers
Ground.

The competition, which kicked off on September 19, featured five clubs; Police FC, Santos FC,
GDF FC, Western Tigers FC and Fruta Conquerors FC, in a month-long contest showcasing
the talent and competitive spirit of Guyana’s emerging footballers. A total of 42 goals were
scored throughout the competition, highlighting the attacking quality and determination of the
participating teams.

Santos FC secured the runner-up position after defeating Fruta Conquerors FC 1-0 in their
third-place playoff encounter, with Jahim Hart scoring the decisive goal in the 57th minute.
Western Tigers FC claimed third place with a convincing 3-0 victory over Police FC. Darius
Chester opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, followed by Omar Moses in the 43rd minute,
before an own goal by Police FC’s Joshua Austin in the 50th minute completed the result.

GDF FC also enjoyed individual success, with Shawn Brown earning the Most Valuable Player
award for his outstanding performances throughout the competition. Teammate Adrien
Hamilton was recognised as Best Goalkeeper, while Brandon Parks received the Most Goals
Scored award after finishing with five goals. Parks shared the distinction with Fruta Conquerors
FC’s Jadan Christian, who also netted five times during the tournament.

Commenting on the conclusion of the U17 Elite League segment, GFF President Wayne Forde
highlighted the scale of the Youth Ensemble initiative and its continued impact on youth
development across Guyana.

“The conclusion of the U17 Elite League segment marks a monumental milestone for GFF
Elite League Clubs, but our mission continues as several of our Regional Associations are still
actively playing matches in the Regional phase. In total, a remarkable 1,021 young men are
participating across the country, a testament to the massive scale and reach of this
groundbreaking initiative.

I want to explicitly recognize and commend the Elite League clubs for their immense effort to
build youth programmes within their club structure and for participating in this critically
important tournament. This collective success is due to the tireless dedication of everyone
involved. We extend our deepest gratitude to all the players for their disciplined and
competitive spirit, the coaches for guiding our youth, the administrators for their seamless
organization of the tournament, and the match officials for ensuring the quality and integrity of
the game.

By establishing this structured platform, we are delivering vital match time for our boys to
hone their skills, an invaluable arena for coaches to gain experience, and a centralized window
for scouts to identify future national team prospects. As a football family, we carry a profound
duty to create opportunities for these young men. By providing positive football engagements
consistently, we are keeping them safely away from socially deviant behaviors.

Congratulations to our Elite League segment champions, GDF FC, as we look forward to the
conclusion of the remaining regional tournaments!”

The conclusion of the GFF U17 Youth Ensemble Elite League Club Competition marks another
important step in the Federation’s ongoing commitment to youth football development and
talent identification. By providing a competitive platform for young players within elite league
clubs, the programme continues to support the development of future national team prospects
while strengthening the foundation of football in Guyana. The GFF congratulates GDF FC on
their championship triumph and commends all participating clubs, players, coaches and
officials for their contributions to a successful competition.