Scotiabank’s Marketing Manager Jennifer Cipriani presents bursary award to one of the recipients in the presence of visiting FIFA Regional Director, Marlon Glean; GFF’s President Wayne Forde; and GFF’s Technical Director, Ian Greenwood.
SCOTIABANK PRESENTS BURSARIES TO YOUTH FOOTBALL PLAYERS
– FIFA’s Regional Director Says Football Is a Pathway To A Better Life
27th February, Georgetown: Scotiabank Guyana last Saturday presented bursaries to 16 students from across Guyana who are part of the GFF-Scotiabank Academy Training Centres (ATCs) and have excelled both academically and technically at their respective ATCs.
The bursaries, valued at G$30,000, were presented at the Boardroom of the GFF Secretariat by Scotiabank’s Marketing Manager Jennifer Cipriani; visiting FIFA Regional Director, Marlon Glean; GFF’s President Wayne Forde; and GFF’s Technical Director, Ian Greenwood.
Scotiabank Bursary Awards: L-R Members of the Head Table at the launch… GFF’s Technical Director, Ian Greenwood; visiting FIFA Regional Director, Marlon Glean; GFF’s President Wayne Forde; Scotiabank’s Marketing Manager Jennifer Cipriani and Debra Francis, GFF’s Communication and Public Relations Officer
In comments during the brief ceremony, Cipriani, while encouraging the students to stay in school said the bursary is aimed at enabling the respective students to offset costs related to textbooks and other school supplies necessary for the furtherance of their academic pursuits: “You can’t have sports alone without some amount of academic (input). Scotiabank’s commitments is to helping persons become better off, not only customers, but also members of the community. You will become customers of Scotiabank, hopefully, so we want to give you a good start. The award today is to help you with your school supplies; use it wisely, buy your text, buy whatever it is you need for your schooling and remember to stay in school and focus on your schoolwork even though you love football.”
Glean, extended greetings on behalf the FIFA’s President Gianni Infantino and his regional office, and congratulated the students, Scotiabank and the GFF for the initiative. The former Grenadian national footballer turned Attorney said football is a pathway to the attainment of life’s dreams: “Football gave me an opportunity to go to school. I was awarded a scholarship to play football in the United States. While there I still played for the Grenadian National Team but, in addition, I went on to become an Attorney. I always tell people that it was through football that I am where I am today.”
The newly-appointed Director encouraged the participants to stay the course and reap the benefits: “The journey has just started for you guys sitting here today. Football is a tool to whatever you’d like to do in life. It’s a great opportunity that you are presented with here to actually play this game. With some of the projects that I see the GFF is pushing forward to be implemented very soon, I’m certain that football here will take you guys a very, very far place, a very successful place in your life.”
Meanwhile Greenwood, while congratulating the awardees, encouraged them to be well-rounded citizens: “We’re looking for not just good footballers but good people as well. That comes with doing your school work and what you do in and around the Academy…whenever you come into the national team, we are looking for good people at every aspect of your life. Obviously, the focus is on football, as we’d like to produce the best possible teams in the Caribbean. If you come into the national programme you’ll be expected to speak in front of a camera and present yourself correctly. Whatever situation you’re in, whether it’s football or school and the rest of your life, it’s about how you present yourself. When you are out and about, people know that you’re a national player and people have their eyes on you. You have to conduct yourself properly. Continue to focus, continue to work hard, continue to ask coaches questions.”
President Forde also offered his congratulations and said part of the Federation’s mandate is to develop well-rounded citizens: “We know that everything we undertake as a Federation goes beyond developing a player (to only play football). The Football Federation is working very hard to develop well-rounded human beings. We want to put into the society wholesome human beings who would have learned and benefited from many of the programmes that we are running at the Federation that go beyond the field of play. In every national camp we host, we have stakeholders from the Social Cohesion Ministry and other ministries who can speak to issues that are confronting our boys, girls and parents every single day of their lives. We’re hoping that those small, simple interventions will help you in this long, and sometimes challenging, journey that you’re taking to get to adulthood.”
Forde further emphasized discipline as a key area for success in football and life: “We’ve seen over the years in our football in Guyana many talented footballers who would have failed to reach the pinnacle of their career or to access the highest opportunities afforded to them because they simply couldn’t conduct themselves in a disciplined manner. You will let yourself down and all of the good talent you have will go to waste unless you recognize the value of discipline. I’d like for you to recognize that you need to commit yourself to focusing on your academic pursuits – to get to school every day, to do your school work, to be obedient to your teacher – and to also understand that football is only part of your life, the overall human being needs to develop and have some balance. So, you need to be an exceptional footballer, that’s the mandate of the Guyana Football Federation, but beyond that, you need to be an exceptional human being.”
The bursary is an incentive and part of the GFF’s partnership with Scotiabank Guyana to provide a pathway for youth footballers into the national senior team.
The recipients were as follows:
Upper Demerara Academy
1. Jamal Allicock
2. Raheem Augus
East Bank Academy
1. Xavi Atkinson
2. Tyrese Jones
Bartica Academy
1. Jeremiah Peters
2. Kareem Caesar
Essequibo Academy
1. Ezekiel Scott
2. Eron Caesar
East Coast Academy
1. Shemar Kingston
2. Colin Henriques
Georgetown Academy
1. Jermaine Garrett
2. Shaquon Favorite
Rupununi Academy
1. Sheldon Cupido
2. Matrim Martin
West Demerara Academy
1. Lashawn LaRose
2. Delon Clark