The stage is set for exciting football today, when the quarterfinal, semifinal and grand finale of the annual Mayor’s Cup 9-a-side Inter Ward/Village Knockout Football tournament is played at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) Ground.
The renowned Sparta Boss
The quarterfinal places were fixed following play at Den Amstel last Sunday, and the eight remaining teams will hunt for spots in the final four, wherein they are guaranteed a cash prize. All questions will be answered today, and football fans have been touting their favourite team as the one to cart off the main prize, the Mid Atlantic Oil and Gas Company- sponsored $600,000 and the Mayor’s Cup Trophy.
Play begins at 6:00pm today with quarterfinal action which sees the Bourda All Stars against Den Amstel match being followed by Tucville facing West Side Spartans. Thereafter, the Sparta Boss would tangle with Friendship Front, and Diamond would battle Haslington. The winners will be the four teams in the lucrative money round.
Fans are inclined to believe that the Sparta Boss and Diamond teams would not only advance to the final, but would win the tournament. However, all the teams are in with a fair chance to make it to the final four, and, more importantly, lift the crown.
The two favoured teams boast several known contenders in their lineup, hence the fans predicting their triumph. Sparta Boss will feature the likes of Gregory Richardson, Kelsey Benjamin, Eusi Phillips, Job Caesar, Ryan Hackett, Jeremy Garnett, Nicholas McArthur, Jermaine Junor and Devon Charles, all battle-hardened players with the ability to win for their team.
The powerful Diamond team possesses the talent of Pernell Schultz, Shameer Fraser, Jahal Greaves, Daniel Wilson, Jamal Booker, Neville Gulliver, Kevron Assaye, Jerome Harrington, Stephon Dolphin and Jermaine Castello.
While the two favourites are getting the attention of the fans and pundits, the diehard supporters and some knowledgeables are not ruling out upsets on the night. Bourda All Stars will feature Lennox Cort, Raphael Edwards, Kevin Baptiste and Daniel Ross, with their opponents Den Amstel depending on Leo Lovell, Kevin Dundas, Rondell Hutson, Gavin Graham and Andra Hector.
Tucville will look to Delon Sue, Antonio McArthur, Shevy Dover, Jaheel Hamilton and Regan Lewis to see them past West Side Spartans, who have Trayon Bobb, Delon Lanferman, Jamaal Harvey, Dwayne Wilson, Kevin Fraser, Kevin Duke and Keon Duke to carry their fight.
Friendship Front, who play Sparta Boss, will look to Kevon Barnwell, Damion Thomas, Okemi Edwards, Desford Dennis, Delon Wrights, Tiquan Taylor and Orami Edwards to find an upset, while Haslington, who tangle with Diamond, will bank on Deron Skeete, Ryan Harris, Anton Peters, Mark Luckhoo and Dexroy Sam.
The 2022 edition of the Mayor’s Cup is in honour of current Mayor of Georgetown, His Worship Ubraj Narine.
Tournament Coordinator Lennox Arthur has expressed immense gratitude to the sponsors for their help, and they include: IPA, DDL, Maggie’s, Digicel, Johil, John Fernandes, General Equipment, Busta, GTT, Namilco, Macorp, New Thriving, Sattar Gafoor, B. Megan, Pritipaul Singh, Ready Mix, Eddie Bobcat, Silvie’s, Caribbean Containers, E Networks, Super Bet, Cummings Electrical, China Trading, Dave’s Lumber Yard, Schlumberger, Pure Diamond, Gold Target Exports and CIDI.
The teams are battling for attractive prize money and the respective trophies, with a first prize of $600,000, second prize of $300,000, third of $200,000 and fourth prize of $100,000 on offer.
The rules governing the tournament stipulate the no offside rule, and teams are allowed five substitutions. The games are of two 20-minute halves for a 40-minute duration. The tournament is a straight knockout one, with no extra time being played. A tie at the end of regulation would result in the teams duelling in the dreaded sudden death penalty shootout.
All other FIFA rules apply, and the referee is the sole authority of these games. Teams showing up late beyond a reasonable time determined by the organisers would be disqualified and their game forfeited via the walkover route.
