Over 40 schools express interest for 12th Courts Optical Pee Wee; kick off set for September 27

The Courts Optical Pee Wee Schools’ Football Tournament, which was officially launched on Friday, will kick off on September 27.

The 12th edition of the competition, organised by the Petra Organisation, will see more than forty primary schools vie for the title, with the final scheduled for November 1.

Defending champions Santa Rosa Primary will again be the sole representative from Region One. Other schools from across the country will join the tournament, including teams from Regions Two, Three, Five, Six, Seven, and Ten.

The tournament will begin with a preliminary elimination round to narrow the field to 32 teams. These teams will then be drawn into eight groups of four for round-robin play.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage, which will feature a round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final.

All matches will be played at the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue.

Petra Organisation Co-Director Troy Mendonca highlighted the importance of the tournament in fostering local talent.

“The Pee Wee competition has created opportunities for young players to go on and represent Guyana,” he said.

Courts Optical, the title sponsor for the 12th year, expressed pride in its continued support, with Chain Manager Richard Simpson calling the event a reflection of “teamwork, resilience, sportsmanship, and joy.”

Nicholas Fraser, Head of the Allied Arts Unit at the Ministry of Education, praised the event’s expansion. “What began as a small Georgetown-based tournament has now expanded to attract over 40 schools from across the country,” he noted.

Prizes for the top eight schools include trophies, medals, and electronics, with individual awards also on offer for top performers.