GFF Super League …

DEFENDING Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Super League Champions Alpha `The Hammer’ United, Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and Bakewell Topp XX will all be seeking to ease into the second round of the GFF Super League when they take on modest rivals today at different venues. Alpha United (Georgetown) will face Seawall United of West Demerara in the feature match of a double=header card at the GCC ground, Bourda, while in the opening game from 18:00 h, at the same venue, GDF (Georgetown) tackle Liquid Gold of Bartica.

Another double-header is carded for the Mackenzie Sports Club ground in Linden and will see home sides Milerock and five-time Kashif and Shanghai champions Bakewell Topp XX face opponents from East Demerara in Buxton United and Victoria Kings respectively.

In the other match on the opening day Rosignol United take on Sunburst Camptown at the GFC ground from 19:00 h.

The latter match was originally billed for the Blairmont ground, but due to the unavailability of the ground in West Coast Berbice, the organisers had to switch the match to the GFC ground in Georgetown.

Alpha United, in their quest to retain championship honours, will be heavily dependent on team captain Howard Lowe who is expected to get valuable support from Kelvin McKenzie, Shawn Bishop, Philbert Moffatt, Renson Williams, Dwain Jacobs, Abesi McPherson, Dwight Peters, Quincy Madramootoo, Gordon Henry, Elton Brown, Andrew Murray and Chris Comacho among others.

According to Administrative Director of the League, Kirk Douglas, the league would be conducted on a two-round home-and-away-tie basis with the top eight of the 10 participating teams contesting a knock-out competition at the end of the first round and the GDF’s attack in their game against Bartica’s Liquid Gold will be spearheaded by newcomers to the side, Telson McKinnon, formerly of Sunburst Camptown, Peter Parks, formerly of GFC and Ike Garraway. They will be supported by the likes of Royon Morrison, Warren Gilkes, Selwyn Isaacs, Shavene Seaforth, Delon Young, Delroy Dean, Devon Harris, Desford Young, Eusi Phillips, Sheik Kamal, Keron Joseph and Stellon David among others.

Bakewell Topp XX will be led by player/coach Kayode McKinnon in their game against East Demerara’s Victoria Kings.

McKinnon will be hoping team mates such as Collie Hercules, Carlos Brown, Quacy Johnson, Michael Crandon, Ruel Williams, Keiron Cameron and Jamie Wilson along with the others play to their true potential to pull off a win.

According to the tournament’s Administrative Director, Kirk Douglas, the competition will involve the same 10 teams that contested the inaugural FIFA-sponsored tournament last year and will be played on a two-round basis with the top eight teams advancing to a knock-out stage after the first round is completed and the winner of that stage will be declared knock-out champions.

The eight teams will then contest a second round and the top four teams will contest another knock-out competition with the winner being declared Super League champions.

Douglas disclosed that the budget for this year’s league is in the vicinity of US$200 000.

He added that transportation and meals for the teams when they have to travel from their respective bases would take up much of the finances being funded by the international body FIFA once again.

The first round is expected to culminate in May, before Guyana celebrates its Independence anniversary, while the second round is expected to start late August or early September and end in October.

Douglas said the US$200 000 budget will also offset the cost of holding educational programmes for administers, training staff and referees.