After winning the Georgetown Zone of the Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” for two consecutive years; Sparta Boss will be looking to further cement their legacy when they face Gold is Money in this year’s final tonight at “Demerara Park.”
The fans of both sides could not ask for a better final between two teams that has a history of fierce rivalry and tonight’s clash promises to be no different.
Based on form, “Gold is Money” has been imperious and could easily be tipped as favourites to win the title, however the defending champs and the most decorated team in the history of the competition, have shown a fondness for finals and usually is well prepared for the battle.
Sparta Boss’s reputation in this tournament is well known and documented, and while their opponents will go into the showdown in ominous form, their superior experience at this stage of the competition will be critical.
They are unbeaten in finals and this imposing record will definitely be in the back of the minds of ‘Gold is Money’.
Sparta Boss will be coming out firing on all cylinders as they look to make a three-peat of titles at Demerara Park tonight
Another advantage that Sparta Boss holds is that they are accustomed to playing in front of large crowds and seem to relish the love, hate relationship with the fans which seem to serve as a boost to them.
Both teams have been playing without their best players in Sparta’s Devon Millington and West Front Road’s Hubert Pedro, both overseas, but there has been whispers of them being present for the final and if this is true then what a spectacular final is in the making.
Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson has held the fort well for Sparta, while Randolph Wagner has stepped in and has performed with similar effect for West Front Road.
Richardson has had superb support from players such as the determined Sheldon Shepherd, Eusi Phillips and Cleon Forrester.
Wagner has been in rich form, but so too is Deon Alfred, undoubtedly the most skillful player in their line-up, while Jamal and Michael Pedro and the experienced Philip Rowley round out a lethal combination.
The stakes are high; the incentive for winning is $500,000 and a spot in the national finals, while the losing team gets $250,000 and a trophy.
Meanwhile, the third place playoff between Leopold Street and Bent Street is anticipated to be a fitting prelude to the final.
These two teams possess players with the caliber to maintain the kind of excitement that has typified the entire tournament.
In the other game of interest, Kingston go up against North East La Penitence for a winner-take-all prize of $60,000 and this encounter is another one that could see end to end action.
There will be three exhibition games and play starts at 20:00h.
