Gov’t investment in sports continues to deliver results nationwide – says sports fan

The government’s heavy investment in the sports sector and development of athletes continues to yield positive results, which is reflected in the steady rise in local, regional and international sporting success.

The latest example is the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) Super 16 Cup, held at the National Training Facility in Providence, which featured top football clubs from around the country.

In a stunning final, Western Tigers pulled off one of the most notable upsets in modern Guyanese football, defeating the highly favoured Slingerz FC by 1–0.

Sports fan Dellon Cadogan attributed Western Tigers’ success to the government’s timely investments and targeted interventions in the sports sector.

“This triumph also underscores the visionary work of the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport. Their policy to install lights and upgrade playing fields in communities nationwide is nothing short of brilliant,” Cadogan said via a Facebook post.

“It was this very initiative that provided the Western Tigers with the quality training facilities that undoubtedly made a difference in their preparation,” he added.

In the 2025 national budget, the government allocated $8 billion to the sports sector, nearly doubling the record $4.6 billion invested in 2024.

The funding focused heavily on infrastructure, including the construction of new stadiums, the installation of lighting at more than 450 community grounds, and athlete development through elite programmes and specialised coaching.

These efforts form part of the government’s broader “One Guyana” initiative to build a complete and sustainable sports ecosystem.

Of the fund, a total of $1.3 billion was allocated to complete multi-purpose sports facilities at Anna Regina, Bayroc, Mackenzie and New Amsterdam, as well as sports halls in Leonora, Lethem, Mabaruma, Mahdia and Mongrippa Hill.

An additional $100 million was budgeted for the continued development of the Cricket Academy at Good Hope, East Coast Demerara.

Additionally, Cadogan called for continued and expanded government support.

“Let us continue and expand this vital vision. We must invest further in developmental programmes and infrastructure for our community clubs,” he emphasised. “By doing so, we can ensure that the talent and fighting spirit we saw today are nurtured in every corner of the nation, building a stronger sporting future for all.”