KFC Elite League, Season Six: GDF seal back-to-back title wins after draw with Slingerz
Following a hard-fought draw with arch-rivals Slingerz Football Club on Saturday evening at the GFF’s National Training Center (NTC) at Providence, East Bank Demerara, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Football Club retained their Guyana Football Federation KFC Elite League title when the curtains came down on Season Six of the League.
With the GDF’s final hurdle of the 2024 season being a clash with the West Demerara-based club Slingerz, although the result of that encounter was of no consequence to the ending of the league, both teams went hard at each other for the 3 points on offer.
This resulted in the match being converted into a goal- keepers’/defenders’ game, with neither side being able to dominate the other, in contrast with those on the back line. Quincy Adams, Jeremy Garrett and Akel Clarke utilized their experience for the benefit of Slingerz, while Colin Nelson and young Threvon Pluck did the same for the GDF.
Teenager Duquain Samuels (ball in hand) made all the difference between GDF and Slingerz on Saturday night (Jemima Holmes Photo)
However, the superstar of the show was the GDF’s teenage goalkeeper Duquain Samuels, who made a brilliant case for future first selection. Coming in to replace the usually safe hands of Jermaine Cumberbatch, Samuels, who plays for Chase’s Academic Foundation in school tournaments, did not disappoint the soldiers; he pulled off a number of brilliant saves to keep the likes of Kemar ‘Bushy’ Beckford and Marcus Tudor at bay.
When it was all done and dusted, the scores remained nil-all for a stalemate, and the points were shared between these two teams.
Earlier in the doubleheader Neron Narrow put on a show to lead the Guyana Police Force (GPF) FC to a 5-0 victory over Den Amstel FC, and he secure himself a shared ‘most goals award’ for the tournament.
Neron Barrow netted a helmet trick for GPF FC
After Dorwin George had opened the Police account in the 14th minute, Barrow found the back of the net in the 18th, 41st, 78th and 88th minutes for a helmet trick.
When the League’s individual awards were later announced, Barrow and Marcus Tudor of Slingerz FC shared the 2024 highest goal-scorer’s award.
Slingerz FC’s Akel Clarke was adjudged the League’s best goalkeeper, while GDF defender Colin Nelson was recognized as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) this season.
While GDF and Slingerz finished first and second in the 2024 season, Police FC were third and Western Tigers were fourth. Buxton United FC are likely to be relegated, having finished the season in 10th place, while Ann’s Grove FC will have to play to stay alive in the League. (G6)
