― Director of Sport lobbying for corporate tax exemptions
The top teams of the recently concluded Georgetown Zone of the Guinness Greatest of the Street received their respective prizes on Tuesday morning at Banks DIH, Thirst Park.
The final which was played on Friday at the National Park Tarmac, saw Sparta Boss in pouring rain win their second consecutive title for the zone when they defeated Tucville 1-0.
Sparta who seemed to have created a dynasty in street football were given their prize of $500,000 and the championship trophy while Tucville received $200,000 and the second-place trophy.
The third place match between Broad Street Bullies and Back Circle was won by the latter 3-2 on penalty kicks. Back Circle won $150,000 while Broad Street won $75,000 and the corresponding trophies.
Guinness Brand Manager, Lee Baptiste congratulated all teams for playing at a high standard throughout the tournament and disclosed that the these top four sides have earned a space in the National play-offs.
In addition Baptiste sent a stern warning to teams who do not obey rules and other obligations and are respectful of time since failure to adhere could result them being expelled from the tournament.
Colours Boutique, supplied all the uniforms to teams and their representative Briana Damon thanked the entire supporter the tournament as they were most pleased over the excitement the football brought the skill of the players.
Banks DIH Public Relations Officer Troy Peters (left) Director of Sport Christopher Jones (second from left), Colours Boutique’s Briana Damon (third from right), Guinness Brand Manager Lee Baptiste (second from right) and Brand Manager Errol Nelson
Meanwhile, Director of Sport Christopher Jones applauded Banks DIH for their commitment to sport, stating, that “On behalf of the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Ministry of Education, Department of Youth Culture and Sport, we are quite happy that Banks has taken this initiative some years ago and continue in that path and more so it adds to youth and leadership.”
Jones added that “it is opposite to believe that Government and Government alone has the responsibility for sport in fact corporate Guyana who would have to lend support to these initiatives and would want to encourage other companies to do same.
The Director is mindful that “companies and business are in the business for business and as such whatever investment they do they are expecting to see returns of those investments.”
In an effort to allow more corporations to be supportive, Jones explained that “We at the NSC are continuing those discussions with the Ministry of Finance where we want to see a way the Ministry can provide to companies of corporate Guyana who lend support to the development of sport that they get tax reductions as to encourage other companies to come on board and I’m hoping that in 2017 this becomes a realization as not only the established companies come on board but the smaller ones as well.”
In January, the West Demerara zone will be contested followed by competitions in Linden, Bartica, Berbice and the East Coast of Demerara after which the National play-offs will be held to select a team for the Caribbean championships.
