NAMILCO U17 National playoffs: Berbice, East Coast, Upper Dem pick up wins as tournament kicks off

There was much excitement at the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) National Training Center (NTC) over the weekend, as the National Milling Company (NAMILCO) Under17 National Academy play-offs kick-started.
No matter the teams in action, however, the final score was the same on both Saturday and Sunday. The East Coast Football Association (FA) Academy defeated East Bank FA Academy, Upper Demerara FA Academy got the better of West Demerara FA Academy and Berbice FA Academy upstaged Georgetown FA Academy; all by a 4-1 margin.
In the first game on Saturday, Isaiah Alphonso (28th), Kobie Benjamin (42nd), Bryan Wharton (46th) and Travis Williams (71st) all netted one apiece for East Coast as they overcame East Bank. Ian Daniels’ strike in the 11th minute was the lone goal for the East Bank Academy team.

Later on, a Keishan Leacock brace in the 70th and 85th minutes led the charge for the Upper Demerara Academy in their victory over West Demerara. Kamara MacLauren (36th) and Kymani Sealey (61st) also added to Upper Demerara’s tally.
Shekel King was the man with the consolation goal for West Demerara in the 53rd minute of the encounter.
Then on Sunday morning, Berbice’s Academy stunned Georgetown. Georgetown took the lead first, by way of a Shem James strike in the 13th minute but, Berbice’s Kemani Spelling would level the scores a minute later.
It was only in the second half that the remaining goals came, as Jaden Thom netted a brace in the 51st and 74th minutes, while Quancy Fraser added another in the 56th minute. Georgetown had no other reply.
The NAMILCO National Academy U17 play-offs are expected to continue next weekend, with four games on Saturday, October 14 and one on Sunday, October 15, both at the NTC, Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD).