Friendship Village football team have been crowned champions of the inaugural 592 Inter-Village Football tournament after a compelling match with their Golden Grove counterparts on Wednesday, January 1st 2020 was eventually decided by a moment of individual brilliance that brought them a 1-0 victory.
Friendship, the inaugural 592 Inter-Village Football Champions, in celebratory mode following their 1-0 win over home side Golden Grove
This signal triumph of the sister village of the more famous Buxton was greeted by a cascade of fireworks that littered the New Year’s Night sky and complemented the raucous celebrations of ecstatic fans that reverberated from the Golden Grove Community Centre ground.
The man of the hour was the diminutive Dillon Wright, who decided this eventual outcome in front of a mammoth crowd numbering in the thousands and representing people from villages throughout the East Coast Demerara corridor.
Following the formalities of greeting the respective combatants before the commencement of the battle, Wright evoked a maelstrom of emotions from the ocean of spectators when he found the back of the net in the 21st minute. Given his stature, it was the unlikeliest of conversions, as Wright escaped his marker and directed his powerful header past the goalkeeper following a cross into the box, sending the Friendship faithful into a frenzy of celebrations.
That conversion sealed for Friendship the package of $500,000 cash prize and championship trophy afforded to the eventual winner. As runners-up, team Golden Grove pocketed $200,000 and a trophy.
Commenting after the match, tournament coordinator Eon Havercome said, “We could not have envisioned or asked for a better finale for the inaugural edition of the tournament. The competition has exceeded all expectations, and has solidified itself as a platform and staple for the future within the East Coast Demerara realm. Once again, I have to thank the fans and the teams for their unwavering support of the event.”
Havercome declared, “Who would have expected that, in the inaugural edition and as a relative newcomer in this realm, the turnout and support would be so monumental? It simply shows that football in the East Coast region, especially among the villages, is truly alive. Without the fans and the players and the corporate support, this would not have been a reality and an eventual success. The 592 Inter-Village Football Festival is here to stay!”
He further revealed that the official presentation of team and individual prizes will occur in the following week, and added that individual prizes will be awarded for the Most Valuable Player [MVP] of the tournament, the MVP of the finale, the Best Goalkeeper of the tournament, and the Best Goalkeeper of the final.
Meanwhile, in the third-place playoff, Beterverwagting (BV) edged Paradise 2-1, Omari Glasgow and Akin Curry scoring in the 14th and 71st minutes respectively. For Paradise, Emmanuel Evans netted in the 69th minute.
Due to the outcome, BV pocketed $150,000 and a trophy, while Paradise walked away with $100,000 and the respective trophy.
Among the major sponsors of this tournament were Bakewell Guyana Incorporated, ExxonMobil, the NSC, Flavours Boss, and the Colin Talbot Construction Services.
Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams and WPA executive member Dr David Hinds were among the dignitaries who made the trek to the venue to witness the grand finale of this tournament.
