-Sparta too good for Festival City Street Fighters
FRUTA CONQUERORS’ mid-field/striker Gerald Gittens transferred his skills from the big field to the small hard court of the Demerara Car Park last Tuesday night, to score a seven seconds stunner for North Ruimveldt in their contest against a determined Tucville line-up.
The two were meeting in the second match on the opening night of action in this year’s sixth annual Petra Organisation/Banks DIH Guinness ‘Greatest of De Streets’ Futsal football competition, which has at stake, $400,000 to the winner and a place in the national playoffs set to be hosted next year.
After seeing Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport Alfred King conduct the ceremonial kick-off following brief remarks, and North East LaPenitence defeating South Ruimveldt 2-1 on penalty kicks, the two North Georgetown based ward teams took to the playing surface.
The shrill sounds of the referee’s whistle was dying away into a starless-sky night, when the crowd roared and the DJ from King Scorpion Sound System announced the scoring of the goal off the boot of Gittens, the third fastest in this year’s tournament.
However, Tucville did not let the early goal deter them and with a determined spirit, snared the equaliser, thanks to the efforts of Dennis Edwards’ 5th minute strike, before Colin Daniels sealed the win for North Ruimveldt with his 22nd minute goal.
Damion Wilson’s 2nd minute goal was all Bent Street needed to defeat Castello Housing Scheme, with Alexander Village using ‘Sudden Death’ penalty kicks to defeat Charlestown 3-2 after a 1-1 finish, with Andre Trotz 6th and Wendell Pedro (7th) scoring for Charlestown and Alexander Village respectively.
Shem Porter can blame no one but himself, as he missed several goal scoring opportunities for Alexander Village during regulation time, while Trotz missed his ‘Sudden Death’ kick from the spot for Charlestown.
Through goals from Paul Port (3rd) and Devon Hyman (23rd), Island All Star edged East Front Road 2-1, with Kasey John scoring for the losers who lacked coordination and communication, in the 13th minute.
After the Guinness break, Laing Avenue met Albouystown ‘A’ and lost 1-0, with Stefan McLean scoring for the victors in the 19th minute; 2012, Georgetown and national representatives Back Circle defeated California Square 2-1 on Sudden Death penalty kicks in a heated contest, as both teams were au fait with each others playing styles etc.
The final game of the night saw Sparta Boss, led by Slingerz Football Club striker Devon Millington, defeating a game and purposeful Festival City Street Fighters 1-0, with Millington scoring the contest’s lone goal in the 2nd minute of play.
The action will continue tonight at the Albouystown hard court with eight more matches, featuring Globe Yard taking on Adelaide Street Charlestown, Sophia North meeting Festival City Warriors, Stevedore Housing Scheme ‘A’ going up against Leopold Street and Hope Street-Tiger Bay clashing with Durban Street.
Following the Guinness break, defending champions Queen Street-Tiger Bay will meet West Back Road, West Front Road and Cross Street will do battle, Broad Street Bullies will try to bully their way past Riverview, followed by Albouystown ‘B’ meeting Sophia South to culminate things.

(By Calvin Roberts)