Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’: Teams scrambling to make final 16 qualifiers

Undoubtedly the most famous of the street football tournaments in the country, teams are scrambling to fill up entry forms to participate in the qualifiers to make this year’s Georgetown Zone of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ tournament, set to kick off on March 15 at the National Park.
With sixteen teams already automatically qualified, the race is on to see who would join them in this year’s eagerly anticipated competition, which is returning after an unavoidable hiatus.
Thirty-two of the top teams from Georgetown will vie, over eight days of competition, for bragging rights and the right to be crowned champion, along with lucrative prize monies and trophies; while an automatic berth in the national final is assured.
Speaking about this tournament recently, Guinness Brand executive Lee Baptiste said that, because of the tournament’s absence for a prolonged period, the company is just as excited and anxious as the teams and fans to see the unrivalled tournament make its return to the sports calendar.

“We are hoping that the tournament enjoys a triumphant return, and it is played with the same discipline and creates a similar kind of excitement that was witnessed in previous years,” Baptiste said.
He revealed that, to this end, they have been planning meticulously to ensure that teams, management staff, and fans who come out to the event have a great time, a feature that is usually associated with the tournament.
The other playing days are March 16th, 17th, 22nd, 23rd, 24th and 30th, with the final set for the 31st. He added that this year’s zone opener would enjoy unprecedented media exposure, in that all platforms would be utilized to promote the event.
Defending champions Gold is Money would be aiming to secure their third consecutive title, an honour that would make them the first team to do so if they are successful.
However, teams such as Sparta Boss, Bent Street, Back Circle, Stabroek Ballers, Sophia, Team Cruel and Alexander Village, among others, would be aiming to dethrone them.
Judging from recent competitions, this year’s tournament could be one of the most evenly contested and exciting in recent memory, with a cadre of young upcoming teams eager to stamp their name in the annals of the tournament. There is sufficient proof to suggest a new champion would be crowned, but not many pundits are daring to write off the more established teams yet.
This year would also witness a more vibrant community interaction, all aimed at bringing communities together to create social cohesion among their residents and to identify talent within the participating communities.
What is guaranteed are exciting matches and giveaways for fans.
Details of the tournament’s official launch would be released shortly.