… teams battling for a top prize of $300 000
THE first-ever Twenty20 football competition kicks off this evening in Linden, under a glitzy atmosphere reminiscent of a World Cup event, organisers of  the  Upper Demerara Football Association, through the Interim Management Committee (IMC), led by Dr Joseph Haynes, have  promised, when the football championship gets under way at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground. The opening ceremony is planned to start at 18:00 h with a march past of the eight contesting teams in the tournament namely Milerock, Bakewell Topp XX, Winners Connection, Net Rockers, Peacemakers, Blueberry Hill United, Eagles United and Amelia’s Ward United, who will parade behind the Linmine Corps of Drums.
Coordinator of the event, Marlon Pearson, said that for the opening there will be a ‘Theme Song’ to be done by GT&T Cell-Link Jingle and Song Winner Ms Malika Boyd and another Lindener Ms Lois Moseley, in addition to some cheerleaders at the games.
This spectacular opening will also have brief addresses by a few top officials.
It was also announced that the major sponsor is Continental Agencies through its Sunburst Orange Juice brand while Humphrey’s Bakery, GPC and E and A Health Centre are also on board. This will last for approximately 40 minutes after which an exhibition game will be played between City sides, Guyana Defence Force and Western Tigers.
The first competition game of the tournament is between Winners Connection and Peacemakers out of Ituni, to be followed by Milerock and Eagles United.
The tournament has at stake a whopping $300 000 for the winners, $200 000 for the runners-up and a third place prize of $100 000 and this will herald in the UDFA’S 2010 season.
Speaking at the briefing for the teams, Dr Joseph Haynes said, “If your club is ready for the season’s opening, it will be included for the rest of the season, as you must be prepared or ready for the next season.”
He said that the world governing body does not have a recognised Twenty20 format of the game as “it has never been before done over the world. It is good it comes out of Linden”.
This game will be for 20 minutes each half with a five-minute break in-between. No extra time will be given if the scores are tied and it will be a straight mandatory three penalty shootout by the substitute players. No side will be allowed to make substitutes after 15 minutes in each half, also and any player red-carded for violent play such as reckless tackling will see the opposing side get a  penalty regardless of where the infringement occurred.”
Public Relations Officer of the UDFA’S IMC, Sharma Solomon, appealed to the clubs that the IMC needs all the cooperation in the communities from which they (clubs) come not only to the footballers, but that this new concept in football must reach a new audience.
He said this new format of the game will allow clubs to stay focused and keep their tempo for an entire game, emphasising that it will allow for the skills of players and not reckless playing.