MVP Sports’ Futsal: Big names booted as semifinal fixtures decided

GT Panthers, Tiger Bay, Fruta Conquerors and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in the women’s category, alongside Gold is Money, Bent Street, Future Stars and Stabroek Ballers from the male division, will be the teams contesting the semifinal round of the MVP Sports’ Petra-organized Futsal tournament.
This is as a result of an entertaining quarterfinal round that was played last Saturday evening at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue. The night was filled with shocks and surprises as the likes of Guyana Defence Force (GDF) from the women’s category and Sparta Boss and Back Circle from the men’s category were booted from the competition by way of defeat.

In the female category, GT Panthers sealed their semifinal spot with a clinical victory over Avocado Ballers. Feona Benjamin (4th, 16th) and Glendy Lewis (6th, 12th) both netted doubles for GT Panthers’ 4-0 win.
Beating Herstelling by the same 4-0 margin, Tiger Bay ensured their jump ahead of the GDF ladies on points for a spot in the semis. Otalia Thompson (7th, 17th) and Nina John (5th, 15th) were the lucky strikers for Tiger Bay.
Adding to the soldiers’ woes, Fruta Conquerors eased past GDF in a 2-0 affair. The matchup saw Jessica Teasdale (17th) and Jalade Trim (7th) finding the back of the net for Fruta Conquerors.
Santos posed a challenge for the Police women in the final women’s game of the night, but the Police’s two early goals, off the boots of Melina Larson in the 7th and 8th minutes, were enough to secure a spot for the law enforcers. The game ended 2-1.
In the men’s tournament, there were goals and upsets galore. Gold is money had easy passage into the semifinal, thumping Sophia 5-1. Darren Benjamin opened the scoring with a brace in the 5th and 7th, while Hubert Pedro, Dextroy Adams and Michael Ballack followed up with one each in the 7th, 15th and 28th minutes respectively to complete their five. Sophia’s lone reply came from Jermain Padmore in the 17th minute.
Bent Street took Campbellville to school in the following game, which they won 6-3. Deon Alfred proved to be Bent Street’s ace, netting four goals in the 8th, 13th, 25th and 28th. Clive Nobrega and Jobe Caesar were responsible for bringing the Bent Street tally to 6 with goals in the 11th and 13th minutes. For Campbellville, Jamal Codrington (19th), Oziel Small (27th) and Anthony Abrams (16th) netted one each, but the deficit was simply too much to close.
Future Stars stunned Sparta Boss in the penultimate game, winning 7-6. Tyrese Dennis was the leading man in Future Stars’ rain of goals, netting 5, which came in the 2nd, 25th, 30th, 36th and 38th. Jamal Cozier’s 3rd minute goal meant that Future Stars were up by two early in the encounter. However, Jermin Junior’s two in the 16th and 17th, coupled with Gregory Richardson’s 15th minute strike, made for a competitive 3-2 game in Sparta’s favour. Jermin Junior had another to add in the 30th, while Daren Niles (29th) and Pernel Shultz (38th) pitched in for Sparta’s 6. But, Jaleel Hamilton’s goal in the 24th, alongside Dennis’s spur in the final moments, were the cause of Sparta’s demise.
The infamous Back Circle was also defeated, this time by Stabroek Ballers. Dorwin George (13th, 15th, 23rd) and Dacosta Aboagye’s (12th, 27th, 28th) hat tricks were chiefly responsible for the 7-2 score. Sean Taylor contributed Stabroek’s seventh goal with a strike in the 30th, but it proved more than enough for Back Circle, whose only replies came from Simeon Moore (26th) and Jermaine Beckles (24th).
The MVP Sports’ Petra- organized tournament will resume on Wednesday, November 23rd, when the semifinal round will be contested at the same venue. The semifinal will see Fruta Conquerors and GT Panthers locking horns, while Police take on Tiger Bay for a chance in the women’s final. For the men, Stabroek Ballers will match strides with Future Stars, while Gold is Money and Bent Street go head-to-head.
The tournament is also supported by ANSA McAL through their Magnum and Lucozade brands, and by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport. (Jemima Holmes)