Second Petra Organisation ‘Soft Shoe’ tournament to kickoff May 17

By Treiston Joseph

The Petra Organisation in conjunction with the Ministry of Public Health launched the second edition of the ‘Soft Shoe’ tournament on Tuesday at Brandsville Hotel.

The tournament will see 24 community teams vying for the top prize of $300,000. The second place finisher will receive $200,000 and third will pocket $100,000, Fourth place will cart off $50,000.

Director of the Petra Organisation, Troy Mendonca noted that he was happy to partner with the Ministry of Public Health to spread awareness on gender violence through sport.

“The Petra Organisation is pleased to continue the soft shoe tournament” Mendonca said, while adding “It gives us pleasure as organizer that we can use our skills to make a difference through sports,”

President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Wayne Forde was shared that the federation is pleased to bless the tournament, noting “the issue of gender violence is pervasive and to Petra doing this with the Ministry is noteworthy. Petra has been a shining light for football, demonstrating that football is better played in the field than in a room,”.

Representative from the Ministry of Public Health, Joy Greavesande wished the teams well and said that men are the “solution” to gender based violence.

The tournament will have six groups of four, with the top two teams in each group and the best three third place teams qualifying for the knockout stage.  The tournament is expected to kick off on May 17 and finish in late June.

(In photo from left) President of the GFF, Wayne Forde; Director of Petra, Troy Mendonca and Joy Greavesande after the press conference