Landmark MoU signed by GFF and DOF Subsea for Girls Football Academy

PRESS RELEASE || The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and DOF Subsea have formalised a transformative partnership aimed at advancing the development of female football in Guyana, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the World Trade Centre, High Street.

Under the agreement, DOF Subsea will make a financial contribution of GYD$40 million over five years to support the operations of the DOF FIFA Arena Girls Football Academy for the development of female football in Guyana.

The agreement establishes a strategic, five-year collaboration between the two entities and marks a significant milestone in the Federation’s long-term vision to expand structured opportunities for girls in football. Central to the partnership is the creation of Guyana’s first dedicated girls’ football academy, to be known as the DOF-FIFA Arena Girls Academy.

The initiative is anchored within FIFA’s global FIFA Arena Project, which seeks to install 1,000 high-quality mini-pitches worldwide by 2031, with a focus on increasing access to safe and inclusive football spaces for young people, particularly in underserved communities.

Guyana is among the first Caribbean nations to implement the initiative, with two state-of-the-art, all-weather mini-pitches identified for construction at Haslington, East Coast Demerara, and Retrieve, Linden.

Under the terms of the MoU, the GFF will design and deliver a comprehensive girls’ development programme, operating primarily from the FIFA Arena facility to be constructed in Haslington, East Coast Demerara, with the flexibility to expand to additional locations as required.

The programme will adhere to the technical, governance, safeguarding, and development standards of FIFA, Concacaf, and the Caribbean Football Union (CFU).

The Academy will provide participants, particularly from East Demerara area, with structured access to grassroots and technical football training, alongside life skills development.

The long-term objective is to nurture a new generation of players capable of representing Guyana at the international level within the next five to six years.

Speaking at the signing, GFF President Wayne Forde outlined the Federation’s broader ambition for national expansion of the initiative.

“We are laying a sturdy foundation for the development of Women’s Football by ensuring that young aspiring players have access to structured football development programmes.

The DOF-FIFA Arena Girls Academy will serve as a hub for weekly grassroots programmes, community football, FIFA Football for school activities and Elite Youth Players Development.

On behalf of our football fraternity, I would like to express my gratitude to our partners at DOF Subsea for their landmark commitment to this fantastic and transformational initiative.”

Marco Sclocchi, Executive VP North America of DOF, emphasised the organisation’s commitment to social investment through sport.

“We believe that investing in young people creates a lasting impact, not only for the individual, but for the family and the community as a whole. There is no better way to put this value into action than by supporting the formation of Guyana’s first girls’ football academy, helping to provide the facility, structure, and organisation needed to train young girls in a sport where respect, teamwork, and excellence are fundamental to success.”

Concacaf General Secretary Philippe Moggio underscored the regional significance of the initiative, describing it as a meaningful moment for football in both Guyana and the Concacaf region.

“This launch deserves to be recognised because it reflects something very important, it reflects a belief that development must be intentional, structured and sustained overtime. And that is what this agreement between DOF and GFF represent. This is a serious commitment. It reflects planning, continuity and long-term investment in young people. Most importantly, it reflects that a real commitment of creating opportunities for girls in Guyana to play football and to grow with a system that is designed to support the development in a very meaningful way, which is deeply aligned with how we see progress at Concacaf.”

Moggio added: “Over the last decade, Concacaf has undergone a deep transformation through our One Concacaf and Football First vision, and a major part of that transformation has been in women’s football. We have worked to create stronger ecosystem, more opportunities to compete and clear a pathway for women and girls across the region. When we speak about advancing women’s football we’re not speaking only about competitions at the highest level, we are speaking about building pathways, increasing access and making sure that more girls in more communities can see a place for themselves in the game we love.”

Minister within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Steven Jacobs, highlighted the Government’s support for the programme: “The signing of this MOU for the establishment of a girls’ football academy is more than ceremonial; it is a powerful investment in the future of young women. It reflects a clear commitment to inclusion and provides much-needed opportunities for girls across Guyana.

He added: “While the government will continue to provide the necessary infrastructure, we are also investing in a high-performance centre that will support this initiative. That centre will be open to all disciplines, ensuring development is taken to another level.

For far too long, the potential of girls has been under-represented and under-supported. Tonight, that narrative is changing. This initiative will empower young girls across Guyana to pursue their passion for football with confidence, discipline, and ambition.”

The signing of this MoU signals a decisive step forward in strengthening the ecosystem for women’s football in Guyana, positioning the country as an emerging leader in structured female youth development within the Caribbean.

(SOURCE: Guyana Football Federation)