Ballerz Empire reign supreme at ‘West Side’ Guinness tournament
Dexroy Adams of Showstoppers receiving the second-place accolade, after the Showstoppers had lost out in the final of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ East Bank/West Demerara Championship
Ballerz Empire have been crowned Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ East Bank/West Demerara Champions, after defeating the powerhouse team Showstoppers 2-1 on Saturday evening at the Pouderoyen Tarmac.
A mammoth crowd saw Solomon Austin open the scoring for the Empire in the seventh minute by intercepting a pass down the centre of the field then dribbling the final defender and slotting the ball into the back of the net.
However, Dexroy Adams equalised in the 13th minute, after Ballerz Empire had accumulated their third foul, which resulted in a penalty kick. Adams made no mistake from the distance, as he slotted down the centre of the net.
Guinness Brand Manager Jeoff Clement handing over the championship trophy to Ballerz Empire after they had emerged winners of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ East Bank/West Demerara zone
The score remained unchanged heading into the extra time interval. Nevertheless, Samuel Garnett recorded the Empire’s winner in the 34th minute when he slammed his first-time effort into the right corner from the right side of the field.
With the win, Ballerz Empire became the first team from the East Bank zone to win the coveted title. They walked away with $250,000 and the championship trophy, and have also sealed an automatic berth to the national championship to be held later in the year.
The Showstoppers have received $150,000 and the runner-up trophy.
Part of the action in the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ East Bank/West Demerara final between Showstoppers (green) and Ballerz Empire (yellow) at the Pouderoyen Tarmac
In the third-place playoff, Jetty Gunners riddled Bagotstown Warriors 4-0 to earn themselves $100,000 and a trophy. The Warriors had to settle for $70,000 and a trophy.
In the Plate final, Pouderoyen Brothers defeated the Ramsay Clan 2-0, and earned for their efforts $60,000 and a trophy.
In the earlier semifinal round, Ballerz Empire edged Bagotstown Warriors 1-0 on penalty kicks after the game had ended scoreless. And Showstoppers had downed Jetty Gunners 3-0.
In earlier Plate semifinal action, Pouderoyen Brothers had defeated Team Antisocial 1-0, while the Ramsay Clan had edged Red Triangle by an identical score.
