The Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) inaugural Elite League Cup, a one-month competition to ensure top teams stay active as the season’s commencement shifts to August, saw its second matchday being staged on Wednesday night at their National Training Centre (NTC), Providence, East Bank Demerara.
With a doubleheader on the cards, Santos Football Club (FC) managed to needle their Den Amstel FC opponents in the earlier fixture, while Slingerz FC later decimated Ann’s Grove United FC 8-0 in the following encounter.
Den Amstel, who seemed to “pull their socks up” after an embarrassing display on the opening night of the competition against Police FC last Saturday, were a much better unit on Wednesday, getting in the way of Santos’ youthful XI. However, it was Shakeel King who found the back of the net in the 39th minute to hand Santos the lead. That goal would go on to become the game winner, as neither side could beat the goals’ custodians for the remainder of the 90 minutes.
Then, two hat tricks were on the cards for Slingerz FC’s goal spree against Ann’s Grove. After a few minutes to find their rhythm, Darron Niles broke the ice for Slingerz with a strike in the 12th minute. Kemar Beckford later made it a 2-0 affair with a goal in the 21st, while two minutes later, Niles pushed his personal tally to two. Curtez Kellman found favour with a close-range shot in the 31st, leaving Ann’s Grove reeling with a four-goal deficit at the half.
Upon resumption, Niles completed his hat-trick in the 49th minute, while Beckford found the back of the net twice more, in the 72nd and 81st, to secure his treble.
Rishaun Ritch added the cherry on top with a strike in the 84th, sealing Slingerz’s 8-0 victory.
The Elite League Cup will continue on Saturday, February 21, with a doubleheader at the same venue. At 18:30h, Ann’s Grove United will look to rebound against Monedderlust FC, while Western Tigers begin their campaign against Fruta Conquerors FC from 21:00h.
The teams in the Elite League Cup are competing for a $1M grand prize. Second place will leave with $700,000, while third and fourth places will pocket $500,000 and $300,000, respectively.
The nine teams in the League Group were placed in three groups: Group A (Slingerz FC, Monedderlust FC, and Ann’s Grove United), Group B (Guyana Police Force (GPF) FC, Santos FC, and Den Amstel FC), and Group C (Guyana Defence Force (GDF) FC, Western Tigers, and Fruta Conquerors FC).
The teams will complete round robin play before the top four teams advance to the semi-finals. The tournament is slated to conclude on Saturday, March 7, 2026.
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