Clashes of the experienced and the underdogs

Corona Futsal Tournament…

…Who will prevail?

The National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue will tonight be transformed into a battleground as four teams proverbially “fight to the death” to get one step closer to owning half a million dollars when the Corona Futsal Tournament heads into the semifinal round. The two clashes are expected to be monumental, as an admixture of experience and new-found talent will take to the playing field.
After two exhibition games have been staged, the first semifinal fixture, at 22:30hrs, will pit Tiger Bay against Future Stars. This clash can be considered “a battle of the underdogs”, given the nature of both teams’ ascension to the semifinal round.
Future Stars first showed their true colours when they held the experienced Bent Street to a draw in the group stage. Thereafter, the team could not be stopped, as they defeated another experienced outfit, West Front Road, in the quarterfinal. The ominous Future Stars have, on several occasions, come from behind to take the win, and this factor should be seriously considered by their opponents, Tiger Bay.
Tiger Bay, however, have a success story of their own. After winning their group stage, the boys from west of Georgetown’s Main Street dispatched the dominant Sparta Boss in a close encounter. All things considered, Tiger Bay were in full control of that game, and will no doubt show the same qualities in tonight’s game.
As such, this pairing will make for an exhilarating semifinal encounter tonight.
The second of the two semifinal games will see defending champions Bent Street engage in a gladiators’ match with Back Circle. Bent Street are not strangers to this format of the game, and have proven time and again that they are one of the top five futsal teams in the country.
Back Circle, on the other hand, are “right up there” with Bent street. Often led by the skill and experience of National Player Trayon Bobb, Back Circle have showcased determination and a certain “eye for perfection” in this year’s Corona tournament.
However, Bent Street have stumbled just once, when the pressure was heavily applied by Future Stars. If Back Circle can match goals, or even take the lead against Bent Street, then that familiar application of pressure can frustrate the increasingly successful Bent Street.
The two teams that will move on to next Saturday’s final will battle for a chance to win half a million dollars. On the other hand, second place winner will walk away with $250,000, while third and fourth place winners will pocket $125,000 and $75,000 respectively.
In addition, the tournament’s “most valuable player” will ride away with one Hero motorcycle, compliments of Rose Ramdehol Auto Sales.
The Corona tournament is being coordinated by the Petra Organisation. (Jemima Holmes)