8-aside football kicks off November 3 in Berbice

Banks DIH Ltd under the GT Beer brand in collaboration with the Berbice Football Association and new sports and entertainment promoters Candy Boss & Antics Promotions on Wednesday launched the inaugural Inter club invitational 8 – a—side football tournament.

This simple but significant event was held at the New Amsterdam Prisons Officers Club saw in attendance, Her Worship the Mayor of New Amsterdam Winifred Heywood, Regional Health Services, Region 6 Director Jevaughn Stephen who represented the Director of Sport, Deputy Commander of Guyana Police Force B’ Division Senior Superintendent Edmund Cooper, Public Relations Officer Banks DIH Ltd Troy Peters, Brand Manager Jeff Clements, Branch Sales Rep Nandram Basdeo, Events coordinator Bradford Peterkin, Candy Boss & Antics Director Tito Sancho, Co-Director George Simmons Jr., Media Consultant & Secretary Mark Bradford, CEO New Amsterdam Hospital Colin Bynoe, Superintendent of Prisons Paul James and Berbice Football Association Secretary Joseph Simon.
Giving an overview of the tournament, Mark Bradford outlined that this tournament will see some 24 clubs from member associations of Georgetown, East Demerara and Berbice as they are set to kick off on November 3 with the grand finals on January 1 2018 with all the matches played at the All Saints Presbyterian Church (Scotts School) ground in New Amsterdam.
He noted that a total prize package in cash and trophies to the tune of G$1,000,000.00 will be at stake and the winners is set to pocket $500,000.00 as the first place winnings. $300,000.00 and $100,000,00 will got to the runners up and third place clubs respectively while $50,000.00 each will be at stake for the best goalkeeper and the highest goal scorer all under the sponsorship of the GT Beer Brand.
Troy Peters, indicated that this tournament was a timely planned one and his company is pleased to be associated with the Promotion agency in making this tournament a success.
He noted that this was history created since the member association of the Guyana Football Federation, the Berbice Football Association has over the years not been able to organized a senior tournament due to a number of unforeseen circumstances and as such this 8 – a – side initiative is seen a s a starting point for big football in Berbice.Representing the Director of Sport was Jevaughn Stephen who congratulated the promotional agency for the step made in providing sports and entertainment at a time when such activities is needed in the town of New Amsterdam and its environs and he announced a commitment of not only the championship trophy but a commitment for sponsorship from the Minister of Social Cohesion with responsibilities for Culture Youth and Sports Dr. George Norton who is schedule to kick off the tournament.
In the feature address from Her Worship the Mayor of New Amsterdam Winifred Heywood, who was at her first official event in the discipline of football since acceding to the leadership of the town expressed her delight in the development for the sport and the initiative taken by the promotion agency to undertake such a tournament at this time.
Joseph Simon noted that the BFA is grateful to the promoters in now having a tournament for the senior clubs of the association which was lacking in years. However, he noted that this he thinks would have been the biggest tournament for the association so far and pledged his association support to the organizers.
Patrons with intentions of witnessing matches during this tournament were being assured maximum public security will be in attendance as the Deputy Commander Senior Superintendent Edmund Cooper lamented.
He noted that the force crime fighting strategy needs to link stakeholders and create partnership with the community, agencies etc. and as such his division is on board in this tournament.
Chief Executive Officer of the New Amsterdam Regional Hospital, Colin Bynoe noted that his facility which is in close proximity from the venue has already made preparations for this event. He noted that an ambulance will be at the venue with a medical team since this will be the first senior tournament and a lot is expected from the clubs participating.
Fly Jamaica is also on board as the have donated two free tickets which would be won via a raffle where patrons purchasing tickets to the matches would be require to full in the basic contact information.
Other sponsors are Jumbo Jet trucking & Auto Sales, J’s Supermarket, Homeline Furnishing, Foot Soul among others