‘One Guyana’ National Futsal Championships: Sparta Boss, Bent Street to ignite CASH in final tonight

…Canaimas, Royals battle in Women’s final

64 teams from around the country have now boiled down to the final two after the semifinals in the Kashif and Shanghai ‘One Guyana’ National Futsal Championships were staged on New Year’s Night, where renowned rivals Sparta Boss and Bent Street ensured they would lock horns on Friday after respective wins in their semifinal games.

In addition, the second leg of the Women’s division semifinal was also contested, leaving Lady Canaimas and Lady Royals to battle in Friday night’s final.
The action on Homestretch Avenue began with the Lady Canaimas pummeling The Lioness 7-0. This time around, Glendy Lewis led the way for Canaimas finding the back of the net twice in the third minute, then once each in the 14th and 17th minutes for a helmet trick.
Glengy Lewis struck in the 9th whilst Sandra Johnson netted a brace in the 15th and 16th minutes for the win.
Having won both their games convincingly, Canaimas’ Glendy Lewis believes they’re off to the right start.
“I think the tournament is going well for us because we’re winning every game. so, I think it’s a good start for us,” Lewis shared.
Then, Lady Royals cemented their place in the final alongside Canaimas, after defeating Tucville Terrorists 5-0. Tiandi Smith opened the scoring in the 2nd minute, followed by Amanda McKenzie in the 5th.
One each off the boots of Horicia Adams (14th) and Shontell Greene (19th), alongside an own goal in the 24th accounted for Royals’ five.
Their captain, Shontell Green says she has found the tournament great thus far.
Shontell Greens said, “So far, I’m enjoying the tournament, it bring out a lot of young folks to come out and support the teams that they love. So, it’s great so far.”
On the sidelines, bets were being set left and right as Sparta Boss and Back Circle took to the court for the first men’s semifinal. Given that Back Circle has beaten Sparta in their last two outings in separate tournaments, the fans at the Sports Hall were plunged into a frenzy when Jermin Junor netted first for Sparta in the 9th minute. However, Bevney Marks and Darren Benjamin would ensure Back Circle of a half- time lead, netting in the 15th and 18th minutes respectively; quieting their doubters for a brief moment.

In the second half, the rules of the game worked in Sparta Boss favour as accumulated fouls presented them with a scoring opportunity which Junor again converted to find the back of the net, thus leveling the scores.
There were near misses on both ends, as Simeon Moore and Marks could only connect with the crossbar while the likes of Curtez Kellman and Omari Glasgow missed opportunities to finish their chances infront of the net. However, it was the Spart Boss captain, Junor, who completed his hattrick with a game- winning goal in the 38th minute, leading his team to the 3-2 win.
Following the game, Sparta’s Curtez Kellman spoke of their rivalry with Back Circle and intent to turn the tables.
“It was a very good game, good intensity. We know Back Circle is a team that pipped us in the last two finals so, there’s no way you can come and beat Sparta Boss three times consecutively in this format of the game. We had our plan, we had our strategy and we came out and execute,” Kellman related about history and rivalry in Wednesday night’s game.

He added, “I Think the team came into this game with a very good mindset, very optimistic. We knew once we stick to our plan we would come out victorious. During the past few training sessions, we worked hard, had a few strategies that we need to come out and execute and we did just so.”
The final game of the night trickled over into the wee- hours of Thursday morning as a goal- fest ended in Bent Street’s favour over Road Warriors 8-6.
Road Warriors brought the challenge to the experienced campaigners as Dionathas Pereira opened the scoring in the 3rd minute. Bent Street’s Daniel Wilson replied in the 6th but Road Warriors would again seize the lead through Matheus DeSouza in the 10th. Wilson netted his second in the 20th to level the scores 2-2 at the half.
In the second, bent Street looked more comfortable as Colin Nelson went on to break the lock in the 22nd. Adrian Aaron and Daniel Ross followed with respective goals in the 28th and 29th to put Bent Street 3 goals ahead.
However, Road Warriors went on a spree as Matheus DeSouza and Hildemir Filho both found the back of the net in the 32nd while De Souza completed his brace in the 36th and Wendrecky De Souza netted in the 37th.
By that time, Jamaine Beckles had his first in the 36th to level the scores at 6- all.
The fans of the Sports Hall broke out into euphoric cheers, some even making their way onto the court when Daniel Ross broke the tie in the 40th minute. Seconds later, Beckles also scored to seal the win for Bent Street.
Adrian Aaron, Captain of Bent Street, discussed their game plan and their drive to quiet the naysayers.
Aaron told this publication exclusively, “Well, we come in this game with one plan, we stick to the plan and we get the win. I know a lot of fans doubting us tonight and we show them why we are Bent Street and why we are competing in this tournament.”
“Like I said, the game plan. We stick to the game plan and we know we going to get over the line. This team only plays based on 5 players and we know with 40 minutes on the clock, they can’t beat the players that we have. We have a good, experienced team and we been around about 4 years, we know one another good and that’s how we execute our plan and get the victory,” the Bent Street Captain further stated.

Final showdowns tonight!
Both finals and third- place playoffs are set to be contested at the same venue today, Friday, January 3.
As one would expect, each side playing for a grand prize has high hopes and expectations for their teams.
Lady Canaimas’ Glendy Lewis said about tonight’s final, “I think we’ll come out victorious because we tea is always the strongest so, I hope that we will become the champions again.”
“They are good players so I know they will be coming and play hard against us but you know, we’re ready always,” a confident Lewis expressed.
Also oozing confidence was Lady Royals’ Shontell Greene who was very appreciative of the opportunity to compete.
“Well, for Friday night’s final I’m expecting a win because it’s the sport that we love playing, football. We work hard and we going out there and get the win cause its going to inspire the rest of females to come out and play. And thanks to Kashif and Shanghai cause we look forward to more female football to encourage female to come out and play,” Greene said.
She went on to state, “To me it’s not a competition. For me, with my team, not a competition because we know how the players does play already and we going out with vengeance to get this win. First place.”
For the Men’s finalists, a plan seems to be key to their performances tonight.
Sparta Boss’ Curtez Kellman told this publication, “The plan would never change, the plan remains the same. Everyone who watch this format of football know that Sparta Boss stick to one brand and that’s the brand that we have been using and becoming successful throughout the years and we will continue using that band of football so that we could come out victorious.”
On the other hand, Bent Street’s Adrian Aaron opined, “For the past 2 years or 3 years, its we and Sparta in every Kashif tournament, check. I think this is the fourth time and all four times we in the final. I think its 2 to one now. I think we got to come hard with a plan and we’ll go and get the win.”
The Women’s finalists are competing for a $200,000 grand prize while second and third place will settle for $100,00 and $60,000.
In the Me’s competition, a $2M first prize is up for grabs with Second, third and fourth place receiving $1M, $500,000 and $200,000 respectively. Both MVPs in each competition will ride off with a brand-new motorcycle.
The Futsal action will get underway at 20:00hrs.