Some of Guyana’s top football teams will, over the weekend, battle for supremacy in the quest to be crowned 2019 National Champions of the Guinness Greatest of the Streets futsal tournament, which commences tomorrow, Friday July 12, and will be played at three venues: The National Cultural Centre Tarmac, the Burnham Hard Court at Middle & Carmichael Streets, and the Racquet Centre at Woolford Avenue.
Guinness Brand Manager Lee Baptiste
At a simple ceremony held to announce commencement of these highly-anticipated National Championships, Guinness Brand Manager Lee Baptiste said, “We have 32 teams in the final leg of the Georgetown Sub-Meet. The prize monies for the tournament will see the winner carting off $500,000; while second, third and fourth (placed teams) will walk away with $300,000, $200,000 and $100,000 respectively. Also, the winner of the Plate Finals will pocket $100,000.
“We would like to thank Colours Boutique for coming on board for the third consecutive year, as they provide uniforms for the tournament. This year, we will be playing at three venues, namely: The Cultural Centre Tarmac, Burnham Hard Court, and our newly added venue, Racquet Centre. I want to urge the players, the team and the supporters to come out and support the tournament in a safe way, and enjoy competitive football.”
Echoing similar sentiments, Colours Boutique representative Trianna Damon disclosed that Colours is pleased to have been supplying clothing to the tournament for the past three years. She urged the players to obey the rules of the tournament, have fun, and drink responsibly.
One of the coordinators of the tournament, Rawle Welch, said Georgetown is the last of the six zones, but is one of the most highly anticipated legs of the tournament.
He reasoned that addition of the new venue would be a great experience for the players and teams, and urged team members to be present at their venue 15 minutes before match time, because, he said the organisers hope to conclude the tournament on time in order to counter negative feedback in regard to the tournament not concluding on time on their respective nights due to teams arriving late.
This tournament will commence on July 12 at the National Cultural Centre tarmac. The other playing nights are July 13, 19, 20, 26, 27 and August 3.
Elimination matches will be played on the first two nights. Then the group stage follows, which will be held over the next three nights. Top two finishers from each group would progress to the quarter-finals and subsequently the semi-finals, which would be held on the penultimate day. The finals will subsequently follow.
The Guinness Plate Championships will feature the eight teams that failed to progress from the group stage. The overall winners would automatically seal their places in the National Championships set for August.
This event is sponsored by Banks DIH Limited under its Guinness brand, and by Colours Boutique.
To date, Beacons (Bartica champions); Melanie B (East Coast Demerara winners); Brothers United (West Demerara/East Bank Demerara winners); Trafalgar (Berbice champions) and High Rollers (Linden champions) are the teams to have secured automatic berths to the National Championships.
Elimination fixtures
Friday’s fixtures (July 12, National Cultural Centre tarmac):
Trap Squad vs LA Ballers
Upsetters vs Albouystown A
North Ruimveldt vs John Street
California Square vs Alexander Village
North East La Penitence vs Stabroek Ballers
Norton Street vs Back Circle
Sparta Boss vs Judgment Yard
Gold is Money vs Globe Yard
Saturday’s fixtures (July 13, Burnham Court tarmac):
Rising Stars vs Good-over-Evil
Ol-Skool Ballers vs Sophia
Albouystown B vs Berlin
Kingston vs Broad Street
Bent Street vs Charlotte Street
Future Stars vs Sophia United
Leopold Street vs Pike Street
Queen St Tiger Bay vs Smyth Street
