MVP Sports Futsal: Bent Street, Fruta Conquerors reign supreme

Bent Street and Fruta Conquerors were the trending names on a night when experience prevailed, as the MVP male and female futsal finals were hosted.
The National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue was rocked by exhilarating performances from the aforementioned teams, in order to clinch the $500,000 and $200,000 grand prizes for the male and female categories respectively.
The first final to be staged was the women’s final, featuring Fruta Conquerors’ and Tiger Bay’s ladies. Although Tiger Bay started well, the weaknesses in their defence were soon opened wide and taking advantage were the Conquerors, who went on to win the encounter by a whopping 11-2 margin.

Fruta Conquerors’ rain of goals began as early as the second minute off the boots of Jessica Teasdale. Afena Baptiste, however, equalised soon after in the sixth minute, much to the delight of the boisterous crowd at the Gymnasium.
Jalade Trim had just the response Fruta desired, hammering back-to-back goals in the seventh and 10th minutes, pushing the score to 3-1. Sandra Johnson joined the party for Fruta, adding another two goals in the 13th and 14th for a 5-1 score by halftime.
Upon resumption, Tiger Bay’s Nina John found the back of the net in the 18th minute, but it would be their last celebration of the night as two more goals from Teasdale (19th, 29th), two more from Trim (24th, 29th), one more from Johnson (24th) and one from Hasha Holder (22nd) propelled Fruta Conquerors to 11 goals, a score that Tiger Bay could not dream of matching.
Fruta Conquerors’ Teasdale was adjudged the female Most Valuable Player (MVP).

On the men’s side, Bent Street completely dominate Future Stars to lift the trophy, after an 8-4 encounter.
Bent Street had their first goal gifted to them in the fifth minute, by way of a Future Stars’ own goal. However, Tyrese Dennis eliminated Bent Street’s lead quickly, with a goal for Future Stars in the sixth minute.
Clive Nobrega had his first strike in the 13th minute, two minutes after William Europe found the back of the net to punch the score to 3-1. Omari Glasgow added one in the 19th, creating a 4-1 lead for Bent Street by the half.
The experienced Bent Street continued to score effortlessly as Nobrega scored in the 27th, Daniel Wilson found the back of the net in the 31st and Glasgow added another to his personal tally in the 33rd. Then, Future Stars turned up the game by 10 notches with a Raushawn Ritch double in the 35th and 39th minutes and one from Jamal Cozier in the 36th.

Similarly to the women’s final, the deficit was just too big to close in the little time available and a 40th minute goal from Nobrega became the cherry on top for an almost-alarmed Bent Street.
As such, Nobrega was adjudged the male MVP and rode away with a motorcycle, compliments of Luminous Motors.
Meanwhile, two fans also got lucky on Saturday night. The first was Patrick Williams, who won a $10,000 gift voucher to shop at MVP Sports and the second, Sheikh Khudadin, who rode away with a motorcycle, also compliments of Luminous.
Additionally, the third-place playoffs were also staged on Saturday night, with the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Women winning by walkover against GT Panthers and Stabroek Ballers thumping Gold is Money 6-1. For Stabroek Ballers, Henry Sampson and Dacosta Aboagye netted doubles while Mark Jhallu and Jamal Bristol added one each.
Dextroy Adams struck Gold is Money’s consolation goal in the 20 thminute. While Bent Street walked away with $500,000, Future Stars pocketed $300,000, Stabroek Ballers $200,000 and Gold is Money $100,000.
In the women’s tournament, Fruta Conquerors took home $200,000, Tiger Bay $100,000, and PGF Women $50,000.
The tournament was sponsored by MVP Sports, Luminous, ANSA McAL through its Lucozade and Magnum brands, and the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry. (Jemima Holmes)