Former champions clash tomorrow

By Andrew Carmicahel

Two former regional champions will take on each other in a bid for a second round place in the Digicel annual national schools knockout football competition in Zone 6, East Berbice.
The showdown between the Berbice Educational Institute (BEI) and the New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) is billed for the Burnham Part on Tuesday afternoon. Both schools have in the past worn regional colours and if they are to get anywhere close to that this year they must clear tomorrow’s hurdle.
However, action in the zone continues today at the Burnham Park with New Amsterdam multilateral coming up against Upper Corentyne Training Centre in what is also expected to be a keenly contested battle.
Meanwhile, last Friday defending champions Vryman’s Ervin Secondary made easy work of Skeldon High 8-3 to move into the second

round. Kevon Williams led the way with a hat trick scoring in the 36th, 43rd and 68th minutes while Isaiah McCalmont and Alex Ogleton scored a double each. A defense error accounted for the eight goal.
In a losing cause, Kellon Angel (7th), Delwin Bowman (11th) and Malvin Burnett (17th) scored for Skeldon High which led 3-1 at one stage in the game.
The defending champions entered the competition with four players who helped them to lift the regional trophy last year; McCalmont, Williams, Ossafo MCDonald and Keron Andrews.
McCalmont, Williams and MCDonald are all mid field players and have good support from their strikers in the Ogleton brothers, Alex and Tyric.
Andrews brings his experience from last year to control the defense and give Vryman’s Ervin Secondary an excellent chance on not only making it to the regional final but to the national finals.
Meanwhile, in Zone Five the semifinal between Mahaicony Secondary and Rosignol Secondary scheduled for today, has been rescheduled for a date which is still to be announced. Organisers are trying to complete the development work on the Mahaicony ground before the new date is announced.
The winner of that game will meet Bushlot Secondary in the regional final. On Friday Bushlot got past Novar Secondary 4-3 on penalty kicks after the two teams had played to a 7-7 draw at the end of regulation time.