The exciting knock-out stages are over, and attention will now be turned to the eight remaining teams as they battle tonight at the National Gymnasium for a semi-final place in the inaugural Xtreme Cleaners/GT Beer Gold Rush Futsal Championships.
The four blockbuster quarter-final matches will see Sparta Boss tackle a talented Future Stars unit, Tucville oppose Back Circle, Sophia play a star-studded Bent Street, and Broad Street match skills with Albouystown.
Sparta Boss will start as match favourites because of their experience and overall superior skills.
They have recorded 10 goals by an offense that features the likes of Devon Millington, Gregory Richardson and Eusi Phillips, who have each scored three goals. Defender Solomon Austin has netted once.
However, they face a strong and confident Future Stars team that has so far netted 15 goals in the competition and has one of the most feared strike forces, spearheaded by Keiron Solomon, Akeemo Anthony and Jamal Cozier; while Kevin Cummings, Ralph Parris and Jeremy Garrett buttress the potency of this lineup.
Tucville, meanwhile, has emerged as a top team in this competition, with the win against Sparta Boss ranking as their best display to date; but who can forget their unbelievable come-from-behind draw against Agricola after being 4-1 down?
That display confirmed that they have arrived on the big stage, and discarding their chances could prove to be idiotic.
Jermaine Junior, Ryan Hackett, Jahaal Greaves, Raphael Edwards, Delon Williams and Dennis Edwards are enjoying themselves and playing to their true potential, so they are dangerous.
The young Back Circle unit is the Championships’ most balanced team. 12 goals indicate a very capable forward line, with Selwyn Williams, Jermaine Beckles and Jamal Adams scoring four, four and three strikes respectively.
Tucville’s Ryan Hackett (green) has played a handy role in his team reaching this stage of the Championships
Curtez Kellman is the owner of the other goal. Defensively, they possess the joint best record, with only three goals conceded.
In the Bent Street/Sophia clash, the former has been a scoring threat from the tourney’s inception, tallying 14 goals via nine different scorers.
Daniel Wilson, Travis Lyken and Job Caesar are the leading scorers with three goals each; which should pose a great threat against Sophia’s eight goals scored.
The Albouystown team emerged winners of their group, which featured teams such as Back Circle and Tiger Bay; so it says a lot about their confidence.
Albouystown has recorded 10 goals in four games, with the duo of Lennox Cort (four goals) and Roy Cassou (three goals) recording a combined seven conversions.
Defensively, Albouystown has only conceded an impressive three times, which is the joint best record among the remaining teams.
The tournament has been a struggle for Broad Street, highlighted by two wins and as many losses. The statistics are evidence of their inconsistency, especially on the defensive, with 10 goals slipped in.
The semi-final round kicks off on Thursday, June 15th, with the winner of quarterfinal one opposing the victor of quarterfinal four.
Victors of quarterfinals two and three respectively will face-off in the other semi-final encounter. The tourney’s final is slated for June 17th.
Winner of the tournament will pocket $500,000 and the championship trophy, while runner-up will receive $200,000 and the respective accolade.
The third and fourth-place finishers will respectively pocket $100,000 and $50,000 and the corresponding accolade.
On the individual side, $50,000 will be awarded to the Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Other sponsors of the event include Fas Grafix, Jefford’s Distribution and Sales, Giftland Distribution Store and FARMSUP Mining Investments Inc.
