Increased grand prize as Rock Futsal returns for 2nd instalment

Come next Monday, 16 renowned futsal teams will begin a quest for a million-dollar grand prize when the second edition of the Rock Auto Trans Futsal tournament gets underway.
The tournament was launched during a simple ceremony at the Fireside Grill, Garnett Street, Kitty on Wednesday afternoon, with the company being announced as another one of the event’s many sponsors.

In sharing details of the upcoming competition, organiser/referee Wayne Griffith divulged the names of the competing teams and the structure of the tournament.
“Sixteen teams are going to take part in this tournament. I’ll just run through it quickly for you guys. The 16 teams are Back Circle A; Gold is Money; Sparta Boss; Stabroek Ballerz A; Back Circle B; North East La Penitence; Albouystown; Bent Street; Z-Tekk Family; Festival City; North Ruimveldt; Road Warriors – yes, the Brazilian team is back; Laing Avenue; Team Cruel; Mo

cha Family and Victoria Eagles,” Griffith informed.
He went on to share, “It’s 16 teams we’re going with this year, we have them in four groups of four and we’re going to play a group stage. The first three playing nights are going to be group games and then we go on to the quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final.”
While the tournament kicks off next Monday, February 24, the remaining playing days will be February 28, March 8, March 14 and March 22, with the grand finale scheduled for Saturday, March 29 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH).
Griffith, in a word to the players, shared a reminder about the importance of them being properly attired for the sport.
The organiser cautioned, “All teams are asked to use the attire and come properly dressed: they must have shin pads, all players must have shin pads and a long sock. This is futsal; this is not the street ball that we normally play; it’s futsal – it’s sanctioned by the Guyana Football Federation and we have sponsors come on board to help us make these tournaments possible. So, we’re asking players to come out with their shin pads and proper socks to have this tournament up and running.”
As first place pockets $1 million, the second-place finisher will have to settle for $500,000; third place, $300,000 and fourth place, $200,000.
Back Circle are the tournament’s defending champions after thumping Bent Street 3-1, in the inaugural final last year.

Groups and first-night fixtures:

Group A
Back Circle A
Stabroek Ballerz B
Festival City
Mocha Family

Group B
Bent Street
Back Circle B
Laing Avenue
Victoria Eagles

Group C
Gold is Money
North East La Penitence
Team Cruel
North Ruimveldt

Group D
Sparta Boss
Stabroek Ballerz A
Albouystown
Z-Tekk Family

Day 1 Group
19:00h: Back Circle B v Laing Avenue
19:30h: Stabroek Ballerz B v Mocha/Family
20:00h: Gold is Money v Team Cruel
20:30h: Stabroek Ballerz A v Z-Tekk
21:00h: North East La Penitence v North Ruimveldt
21:30h: Bent Street v Victoria Eagles
22:00h: Back Circle A v Festival City
22:30h: Sparta Boss v Albouystown