GFL's 2002 season kicks off June 14
By Steve Ninvalle
Stabroek News
June 2, 2002
The eagerly awaited 2002 Premier League organised by the Georgetown Football League will kick off Friday June 14 with a double header at the GFC ground.
Santos tackle GFC in the opening game while Pele and Thomas United square off in the feature encounter. The eight top teams from Banks Milk Stout 2001 Super League will play 56 matches in two rounds of football for a first prize of $750,000.
The prize shows an increase of $250,000 from 2001. The team placing second collects $450,000 while third place will earn $300,000. The teams competing are: Fruta Conquerors, GFC, Camptown, Western Tigers, Thomas United, Santos, Pele and Beacon.
The GFL season will be officially opened this Sunday when WC Connection of Trinidad and Tobago tackles a Georgetown Under-21 All Stars. The game will be played under floodlights at the world famous Bourda ground.
The GFL has also organised a first division competition which is scheduled to commence on Tuesday June 18. Twelve teams will vie for a first prize of $250,000. The teams placing second and third will receive $175,000 and $100,000 respectively.
Clubs taking part in the first division are: Flamengo, Dairy Bar Charlestown United, University of Guyana, GDF, Media United, Alpha United, Black Pearl, Police, East Lapenitence United, Newtown Pacers, Lion's United and Lamaha United.
President of the GFL Christopher Matthias said that all other clubs interested in participating in the first division should register no later than Friday June 7. All clubs who do not qualify for the Premier League will be regulated to first division. There will be no second division this season. Matthias disclosed that his organisation will be focusing on the development of the Under-13, 15 and 17s.
All clubs will be required to have a nursery at the start of the youth division tournaments which will commence in July.
Registration fee is $15,000 for the Premier League and $10,000 for first division. The GFL president explained that the general council has established that for a club to be registered the following criteria must be met:
The club must have a president, secretary, treasurer and coach, a minimum of 24 members (all of whom must be insured) and coach must be registered with the Guyana National Football Coaches Association.