The annual West Demerara/East Bank Demerara Zone Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Football Championships got underway Friday night with a humongous viewership at the Pouderoyen Tarmac.
The stardom of the twelve exciting matches was two-time defending champions Pouderoyen Showstoppers defeating Admiral United on the bank of a Stephon Jupiter goal in the 12th minute.
The top street football teams in the West Demerara/East Bank Demerara Zone got down to business on Friday evening at the Pouderoyen Tarmac
Most of the other matches were closely knitted with penalties or a one goal margin being the deciding factor. Boom Bang won 3-2 on sudden death penalty kicks after their match with Young Ballers ended in a goalless stalemate. Likewise, Ballers Empire came tumbling via 0-1 loss on penalty kicks to Asylum Youths. The same went for Bagotville All-Stars and Nismes Ballers with the latter winning 1-0.
Some sharp shooting occurred for West Side Ballers when Quessey Alleyne scored the lone goal in the 14th minute in their clash with Jetty Ballers. Heartbreak came in the clash of two East Bank teams when Amos Ramsay scored a Guinness Goal (counts as two in the final 3 minutes) for Mocha in the 18th which erased the lead Domini Garnett provided in the 5th for Agricola.
More so, Up Like-7 went up one against Patentia Money Team and never came down after Shane Webster scored in the 6th.
Dream Team lived up to their name edging Front Line Ballers 1-0 with Kester Alleyne (2nd minute) being the deciding factor. Keevin Duke helped Police ‘B’ get the better of ESPN when he scored in the 7th minute while Veterans got the better of Zeelugt FC, winning 1-0 on penalty kicks due to scores being unmoved at the final whistle.
Harmony Ballers ‘A’ also could not find a goal in their clash with Facebook Ballers but won 1-0 on the sudden death spot kicks and Darrel Abrams strike in the 11th helped Rising Stars defeat Zeelugt Warriors 1-0.
The tournament which is in collaboration with Colours Boutique will see the winning team take home $400,000 and the championship trophy, while the runner-up will receive $200,000 and the corresponding accolade. The third and fourth placed finishers will receive $150,000 and $100,000 respectively along with trophies.
Action continues on Wednesday evening at the same venue with Harmony Warriors facing Police ‘A’ from 19:00h; half an hour later Gold Getters will be in action against Parafaite Hard Ball. From 20:00h Cayenne Massive meet Gas Team then Hustlers engage Brothers United from 20:30h followed by Boom Bang and West Side Ballers at 21:00h.
Up next will be Young Ballers and Jetty Ballers from 21:30h then Mocha and Ballers Empire from 22:00h. Asylum Youths will then play Agricola from 22:30h. High octane action is expected when Terror Squad meets Torture Squad 23:00h while Up Like Seven battle Nismes Ballers from 23:30h.
The final two matches of the night pits ESPN against Front Line Ballers from midnight followed by Police ‘B’ and Dream Team.
