GREGORY ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson scored a hat-trick while Devon Millington netted the other in Sparta Boss’ 4-2 win over West Front Road that made them become inaugural Champions of the Busta Soft Shoe Football tournament. The final was played at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground on Tuesday evening and with the win, Sparta Boss pocketed $600 000 while West Front Road went home with $300 000.
It was the largest crowd of the tournament, a fitting climax to a new format of football in Guyana. Sparta Boss, with their star-studded team, were clear favourites to win the competition, sponsored by the Guyana Beverage Inc. and organised by Petra Organisation.
Millington, Richardson, Travis ‘Zorro’ Grant and eventual tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP) award recipient Sheldon Shepherd, were at the forefront of the Sparta Boss team while West Front Road turned to their skipper and National defender Colin Nelson along with Michael Pedro to guide them to the trophy.
While West Front Road were solid on the outfield, their goalkeeper was the weaker of the two sides and Millington in the 6th minute, put the winners up-front when he ‘toe-poked’ a ball he collected from Richardson.
Sparta Boss and their huge entourage celebrated Millington’s strike and Richardson five minutes later scored his first of three goals and doubled his side’s goal count.
The nifty player smoothly evaded two defenders before unleashing a powerful right-footed shot that went flat and hard past West Front Road feeble goalkeeper.
In the 22nd minute, Nelson pulled one back for West Front Road, scoring from point blank range but still trailed 2-1 at the end of the first half.
In the second stanza, both sides had their fair share of chances but Sparta Boss were the aggressors as Richardson, after coming close several times, finally scored his third goal in similar fashion to his first.
With their fans already celebrating, Sparta Boss could sense victory but West Front Road were not ready to surrender just yet.
They (West Front Road) threw everything in their armoury at Sparta Boss and were able to find the net in the 40th minute through Michael Pedro, but it was too late.
Meanwhile in the third place playoff, Queen Street Tiger Bay defeated Kitty Weavers to take home $200 000.
Darren Harris netted a hat-trick (6th, 20th and 31st) for the winners while Nigel Denny (12th) and Sherwin Vincent (26th) scored for the Kitty team.
MVP Sheldon Shepherd of Sparta Boss was awarded $50 000 compliments of 2J’s General Store and the Highest Goal Scorer Dwayne Lowe from Sophia who netted nine goals received a gold chain from Junior’s Jewellery.
West Front Road picked up the Most Disciplined team accolade that came with $25 000, thanks to Guyana Beverage Incorporated.

By Rawle Toney