Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ 2024 tournament: Bartica Zone kicks off tonight

…Nationals set for Sept 6

Following four years of inactivity due to the COVID pandemic, the increasingly popular Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ futsal tournament has returned with a bang this year; and evident massive support is seen in all the communities that hosted the competition.
With tournaments having been played in Georgetown, Berbice, Linden, Essequibo, and East Bank/West Demerara so far, attention is now being focused on the Bartica community, the final stop in the Zone segment, before the staging of the highly anticipated National Championship, set for the Pouderoyen Tarmac on September 6.
Unrivalled in popularity, a win of this tournament has developed into the most-sought-after accolade among street teams, and bragging rights are the main motivator for teams within the communities where the tournament is played.
This motivation is then carried over to the national finals, where the winning team can boast of being the best in the country, an achievement that lasts for one year.
Fans in the Bartica area will tonight witness the start of two days of fierce competition, set to culminate tomorrow with the final, wherein the winning team would be crowned zone champion and earn the right to represent that community at the national tournament.

Sixteen teams have earned the right to participate in the competition for prize money totalling in excess of $600,000. The winning team would receive $300,000, while second-, third-, and fourth-place finishers would take home $200,000, $100,000, and $80,000 respectively, along with trophies.
According to a member of the organising committee, all systems are in place for two nights of intense rivalry, as teams battle for the right to represent the community on the biggest stage, the national final.
Meanwhile, the buzz surrounding this year’s national finals has been reverberating throughout the country, and according to feedback, the organisers are pulling out all the stops to make that event a memorable one-night wonder. Cash prizes for the winners have been increased substantially, with a total of over $2 million in cash and trophies being up for grabs; while fans would also be rewarded with special giveaways throughout the night.
In a comment invited by this publication, Guinness Brand Executive Lee Baptiste has said he is pleased with support received from the teams and fans this year, and is encouraged to make things even better next year.
“The support this year has been extremely encouraging, especially since we were returning after a four-year absence. This just shows how popular the tournament is, and we will continue to take this feature into our deliberations when we meet at our internal meetings,” Baptiste has said.
He added that introduction of Essequibo as one of the new areas in the annual event, and the support enjoyed from that community have enhanced the company’s resolve to continue the competition.
Meanwhile, the national champion will collect $1 million and the winning trophy; while second-, third-and fourth-place finishers would receive $500,000, $350,000, and $200,000 respectively.
The fans have come in for high praise for their support throughout the tournament’s history, and according to Baptiste, this tournament continues to grow in popularity. He disclosed that while availability of suitable venues remains an obstacle in some communities, the organisers are contemplating a reversion to the initial concept of playing the game in various communities.