The “Biggest Party in Sport” opens at Providence on Thursday, August 9 when the Guyana Amazon Warriors begin their campaign against last year’s runners-up, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.
The commencement of ticket sales locally on July 19 was the first step in the lead-up to the excitement that only comes from the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL). This year, Guyana will host five preliminary matches involving the Guyana Amazon Warriors plus two play-off games that will be contested among the top four teams following the league phase of the tournament, which is now in its sixth year.
All set. This excited fan displays her tickets and Warriors top with pride
Providence has been considered the ‘sacred hunting ground’ of the Amazon Warriors mainly as a result of the overwhelming support from local fans. As such, the local franchise has made official players’ merchandise available for sale as is customary annually for the adoring fans. There are hats and caps; playing and warm-up replica tops, long and short sleeved; playing and warm-up trousers, both long and short, all in various sizes for children and adults.
Additionally, souvenir items are on sale, including coffee mugs, umbrellas, bats, balls, batting gloves and pads, and helmets.
However, fans are urged to only buy from the Guyana Amazon Warriors Merchandise Shop at 232 Camp and Quamina Streets in Georgetown as there may be some imitation items elsewhere. In previous years, unsuspecting patrons bought bogus merchandise and even paid higher prices than the authentic TYKA items.
Meanwhile, the Guyana Amazon Warriors began a road show with the Warriors bus taking to the streets on Saturday along the East Coast of Demerara. The bus stopped at the Mahaica and Mon Repos Markets where the models interacted with jubilant fans and shared out gifts, including arm bands and flags. Today, the road show will roll to the Parika area where the excitement will continue and fans are urged to join in the fun.
The sixth edition of CPL begins on August 8 in Trinidad with defending champions Trinbago Knight Riders taking on St Lucia Stars at the Queen’s Park Oval before the attention shifts to Providence. The Amazon Warriors will play the Stars on August 11 at Providence from 16:00h and will complete their first phase of home matches on August 12 against the Barbados Tridents.
The Shoaib Malik-led team will then head on the road for their away fixtures before returning to Guyana for assignments against Jamaica Tallawahs and Trinbago Knight Riders on September 8 and 9 respectively.
Tickets are on sale at 232 Camp and Quamina Streets, Georgetown; 19 Princess Elizabeth Road, New Amsterdam and at Imam Bacchus General Store at Affiance on the Essequibo Coast.
