first ever T20 football tourney
BLUEBERRY Hill United of Christianburg, Linden walked away with the first ever  T20 football championship on Saturday night when they edged past Ituni’s Peacemakers in the final which was played at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground.
The tournament, the first of its kind which was organised by the Upper Demerara Football Association’s (UDFA) Interim Management Committee (IMC) which is headed by Dr Joseph Haynes, planned and executed an event which is bound to catch on like the format which is played by cricket around the world.

For starters the tournament which involved eight teams from the Upper Demerara area saw the winners capturing $300,000, runnerup $200,000 and third place winners $100,000.

The tournament met the expectations of all in the final, even though the regular teams which were favoured, never made it through to the final of the knock-out competition , as Bakewell Topp XX, Milerock and Eagles United along with Net Rockers fell by the wayside, to give way to two teams which played the game at a brisk pace and momentum which was produced in this final for such a version of the sport.

Before this tournament began, the UDFA’s IMC Chairman Dr Haynes had predicted that this new format of football which they have created “is going to be good and we are going to bring football back here in Linden. I intend to make sure that we promote the style of football that goes World Cup. 20/20 is going to go World Cup. I can see it.”

While making it to the World Cup may be a bit far-fetched for many, from this start it seems that the sky is the limit.

The final was truly an up-tempo one where initially Peacemakers looked the better of the two sides surely in the first half, even though both teams played sound football.

But the Blueberry Hill United side proved that they were up to the task of securing the historic win as they never played without purpose.

The forays on both sides of the field were sound, but for some finishing which failed to materialize goals. The first twenty minutes therefore saw neither being able to score and the threat of penalty kicks after the regulated 40 minutes play, 20 on each half, loomed.

However, right winger Malven Benn created the scoring opportunity when in the 29th minute he was able to send a neat pass to forward Darrel George who clinically finished the play, with a rasping drive which surprised not only the huge Peacemakers goalkeeper Strisand Murphy, who could not execute a save, but their defence as the ball zipped past Murphy as a dazed defence remain motionless.

As the pressure mounted against Peacemakers they went on ultra offensive and defended stoutly. This forced goal keeper Murphy to come off his line often to thwart the attacks by Blueberry Hill who by then were not settling for containment but wanted more goals. In one such offensive move by Blueberry Hill United through the centre, Murphy came outside his area and caught 20 yards out, fouled striker Keith Gilkes.

However, the Ituni side with a strong following had a ‘never-say-die’ stance and they continued to probe forward. Then striker Norvell Adrian positioned himself for the equalizer but miffed the chance in the 32nd minuite.
Three minutes later Blueberry Hill United another shot went wide with the goalkeeper out of position. Then Adrian sent a shot over the cross bar in the 37th minute as Malven Benn replied with one for Blueberry Hill which forced Murphy to parry it away from the citadel.

However, despite their efforts, Peacemakers were unable to level the scores and lost the final, which was exciting, 1-0.

Captain of the Blueberry Hill United side Mark Liddell, whose level headed play kept his team as a unit throughout from the midfield position, was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP of the tournament final.
He received a trophy from Parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Cultuire, Youth and Sport Steve Ninvalle and the wife of the UDFA’s IMC Chairman Dr Joseph Haynes.

Continental Agencies, Mr. Percival Boyce, was there to hand over the winning cheque worth $300,000 to the winners Blueberry Hill United. Second placed Peacemakers and Amelia’ Ward United who beat Eagles United 2-1 for third place received cheques of $200,000 and $100,000 respectively.

Amelia’s Ward United won 2-0 over Eagles United through goals by Kevern Powell who scored in the 8th minute and the other by Matthew Whyte in the 27th minute.

Earlier in the evening Topp Class won 2-1 against Linden Minibus crew.

The teams were introduced to Presidential Adviser Odinga Lumumba, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport Steve Ninvalle and main sponsors Continental Agencies through its Sunburst Brand representative Percy Boyce, among others, before the final.

Other sponsors for this inaugural championship were Humphrey’s Bakery, Guyana Pharmaceutical Company and E & A Health Centre.