GDF make good on promise to “secure” Super-16 Championship!

Story and photos by Jemima Holmes

Tension permeated the National Track and Field Facility, Leonora on New Year’s Day, as two bands of hopeful footballers approached the penalty line. Just five kicks separated the two teams from $2 million, gold medals, and the ultimate bragging rights.

Hundreds of fans, in stands and on the ground, grew ‘church mouse’ quiet as the first Western Tigers player approached the penalty mark; he shot and he scored; the first GDF player also did the same. The second strikes were equally as clean, but the third is where it went wrong for the Western Tigers. As Western missed their shot, GDF connected to go one up. The penultimate penalties both found the back of the net, leaving the last to be the championship decider.

Western connected, hoping that GDF would miss this shot, or that their goalkeeper Sese Norville would pull off a screamer of a save to give them a lifeline. As Kelsey Benjamin, GDF’s last shooter, approached the penalty mark, his team became fully animated, and with that, the crowd rose to their feet, many of them biting nails and saying silent prayers.
After careful thought, Benjamin took his shot, directing it at the left corner as Norville leaped sideways for the save. He indeed got a hand to the ball, but the simple graze of his fingertips was not enough to keep Kelsey’s shot out of the net and surely not enough to keep the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) from winning their second, back-to-back Super 16 Cup.
Prior to the penalty shootout, the final encounter in the 2021-2022 Guyana Football Federation (GFF)- Kashif and Shanghai (K&S) Super-16 tournament began with a certain intensity at the sound of the whistle.
The ball lived in the midfield, so to speak, as this group of players dominated possession through the middle. This meant, however, that whenever the ball got to the wings, it appeared as though a goal was about to be witnessed. This was especially the case for Western Tigers’ Kevon Woodley and Trayon Bobb, who had many chances traversing the wings, but couldn’t finish them off. Or simply didn’t get the finishing support from their teammates.
It was only after the first goal was scored that the soldiers seemed to wake up. Off of a free kick, the ball came pretty close to the goal, but was diverted out of the danger zone by GDF’s defence. What they did not expect, however, was that Woodley was perfectly positioned to rebound the ball back into the goal and the GDF goalkeeper had no reply after losing his footing in a collision.
With Western up in the 16th minute, play finally became fluent on the other half as the soldiers hunted a much-needed equaliser. Their opportunity finally came half an hour into the contest, by way of an infraction inside the box. The penalty was taken, but Norville was aware enough to fend it off. However, there was some dispute about the legality of the penalty and it was decided by the officials that GDF would have another shot at levelling the game. This time, Colin Nelson lined up and was more successful than his other teammate at beating the goal’s custodian to bring the score to 1-1 in the 36th.
The half expired with the scores remaining locked and so did regulation time, plunging the contest into extra time. Even with an additional half an hour, neither Western nor GDF were able to penetrate the other’s defence and by extension, the goalkeepers, so penalty kicks became the last resort.
If one were to remember GDF Assistant Coach Kavin Pearce’s words during the pre-match press conference, where he alluded to the Defence Force’s duty to secure the country; the irony of them securing a second Super-16 Championship becomes delightful.
The third-place play-off, which was contested earlier in the evening, was especially unlike the final, as one team dominated the entire 90 minutes. The Den Amstel Football Club proved their worth with a 2-0 victory over the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
Eventual highest goal-scorer of the tournament, Gideon Payne put the West Coast Demerara team ahead in the 24th minute with his first goal. Not paying much mind to this, the GPF continued on casually, that is until the second half when the realisation of finishing fourth finally dawned on them. At this point, the GPF became desperate in their plays, but Den Amstel played impeccably to keep the officers at bay. Payne returned in the 77th to add another to Den Amstel’s and his personal tally, sealing a victory and a $500,000 prize for his team.
In the individual prizes, Colin Nelson not only walked away with the $500,000 diamond ring, compliments of Tony’s Jewellery for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) but also the accolade for best defence player. His teammate, Ryan “Boom Boom” Hackett was adjudged the best midfield player, while Den Amstel’s Payne and Denzel Smith received the Golden Boot (most goals – 5) and best goalkeeper awards, respectively. Another teammate of theirs, Keanu Lawrence received the award for most improved player. GDF Coach Joseph Wilson was adjudged the Best Coach of the tournament.
Based on the result, GDF walked away with the $2 million prize and coveted BACIF trophy, which should now be theirs to keep, after winning the tournament twice, consecutively. Western Tigers had to settle for $1 million and a trophy, while Den Amstel and the GPF copped $500,000 and $250,000 respectively.
The tournament was sponsored by the Government of Guyana; Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport; KFC Guyana; NEW GPC; Mohamed’s Enterprise; MVP Sports; Dinars Trading; DDL with Pepsi, Gatorade, Diamond Water; Statement Investment Inc; HJTV & 94.1FM; Star Party Rentals; BACIF; NAMILCO; Capelli Sports; Fireside Grill and Chill; Cevons Waste Management; Tony’s Jewellery Establishment; Daphness Foundation of New York; Ground Structural Engineering; Fast Lane Auto Spares; Bakewell; Pegasus Guyana; C MOBILE; Jim’s Variety Store; Secure Innovations and Concepts Inc; Simextra Trading Guyana; Superior Concrete; Survival Supermarket; Eon DeViera Goalkeeping Academy; Fitness Express; Banks DIH; Rose Ramdehol Auto Sales and Trophy Stall.