GFF unveils revamped youth football programme

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has unveiled its inaugural Youth Ensemble Programme, a strategic initiative set to fundamentally transform the national youth football ecosystem from May 2026.

The programme, which received the green light from the Federation’s Congress, introduces a mandatory, structured competition calendar for Under-13, Under-15, and Under-17 age groups.

It represents the GFF’s most ambitious attempt to date to bridge the gap between grassroots participation and elite national representation.

The Youth Ensemble will operate through a rigorous two-tier system designed to ensure maximum participation across all ten Regional Associations:

• The Intra-Association Phase: Regional Associations will host league-format competitions where over 200 affiliated clubs are invited to compete.
• The National Championship Playoffs: The top two teams from each regional league will advance to a high-stakes National Phase to determine the undisputed National Club Champion for each age division.

In a significant move for club licensing, all ten GFF Elite League clubs are now mandated to field teams in these designated youth categories.

This requirement aligns Guyana with CONCACAF and CFU club licensing standards, ensuring that the country’s top-tier clubs are actively investing in their own talent pipelines.

The competition window has been deliberately scheduled to coincide with school holidays. This “scouting-first” approach ensures that national team coaches have ample time for talent identification and extended preparation ahead of international youth tournaments.

Central to the Youth Ensemble is a robust Child Safeguarding framework. Through an MOU with the Rights of the Child Commission and alignment with the FIFA Child Safeguarding Strategy, the GFF has made safety compulsory.

Every participating club and association must adhere to strict protocols regarding risk management and education, ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for every young player.

GFF President Wayne Forde described the launch as a “defining step” in modernising the local game.”This is the blueprint for youth competition at the club level,” Forde stated. “It represents a major shift toward a more structured and predictable football calendar. We are moving away from ad-hoc tournaments toward a sustainable pathway that expands talent identification nationwide.”

Forde also issued a stern call to action for regional administrators, urging them to prioritise timely player registration.

“Our collective responsibility is to ensure that no child who wants to play is denied that opportunity because of avoidable administrative shortcomings.”

The GFF is set to begin nationwide consultations with Regional Associations to ensure operational readiness for the May 2 kickoff.