DJ Stress Festival
FOLLOWING a successful hosting of the first tournament last year, corporate Guyana thought it best to throw their support behind local promoter Paul Bonar `aka’ DJ Stress’s second one-day 20/20 Festival which is set for the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, on July 4, with over G$1M in prizes up for grabs. Added interest to this year’s tournament is the inclusion of Trinidad and Tobago’s top T20 team Moosai Cricket Club, who will be doing battle with our very own Hotel Tower New Line Cavaliers (NLC) (the defending champions), Gizmos and Gadgets Georgetown Pitbulls and Universal DVD Club Berbice Titans for the first prize of ($500 000).
In the first match, which bowls off at 10:00 h, Digicom Moosai Tigers will face G&G Georgetown Pitbulls while Hotel Tower NLC will face Universal DVD Club Berbice in the second semifinal which commences at 13:30 h.
An exhibition match which will be either a 10/10 or 15/15 affair will be played prior to the final, involving the Media XI and a McGill West Demerara XI from 17:30 h.
With the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) sanctioning this year’s tournament, certainly the best players will be looking to represent their respective teams in the hunt to cart off the top prize, which Moosai promise to give back to local charity if they are the victors.
Hotel Tower NLC won the inaugural title last year at the national stadium and two months later, at the Albion Community Centre ground, donated their prize money to numerous charities around the country.
Not to be outdone, Bonar himself made numerous donations to charitable organisations from the proceedings he received from both matches. A grand prize-giving ceremony was carried live on NCN Channel 15 in Berbice.
A plethora of stars both present and future will be on show for this spectacular event, with the Hotel Tower NLC being the favourites to cart off the title once again, despite the inclusion of the top T&T team.
Hotel Tower NLC will be led by national middle order batsman Gajanand Singh, who will be receiving valuable support from former Guyana and West Indies Under-19 skipper Andre Percival, Chien Gittens, Andrew Lyght Jr, Cowen Ismond and Anthony Ifill.
A reliable source has informed Chronicle Sport that West Indies middle order batsman Narsingh Deonarine who made a few guest appearances for the Canal Number Two-based club, will be doing so again as the defending champions look set to walk away with the title once again.
But there are speculations that Deonarine, Balram Samaroo and Richard Ramdeen who has all appeared in the blue and yellow for the NLC, will be asked to don the orange for the Universal DVD Club Berbice Titans, while former Guyana and West Indies right-arm leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo has indicated his interest to represent the Digicom Moosai Sports Club, of which he is the skipper.
A look at the T&T top T20 team will also show fans the faces of Lendl Simmons, Rayad Emrit and William Perkins, three young and exciting cricketers from the Twin Island Republic.
The Universal DVD Club Berbice Titans will be led by the Crandon siblings Royston and Esaun Crandon, ably supported by Delbert Hicks, Rajiv Ivan, former Under-19 master batsman Jonathan Foo, Sewnarine Chattergoon and Devendra Bishoo.
Gizmos and Gadgets Georgetown Pitbulls will be looking to redeem themselves in this tournament, having lost to Hotel Tower NLC in the final of the inaugural tournament and to this extent will be selecting a strong squad to do so.
West Indies middle order batsman Travis Dowlin along with his Demerara Cricket Club teammates in national all-rounder Christopher Barnwell and pugnacious youth opener Trevon Griffith are expected to lead their challenge.
Add Leon Johnson, Guyana/Stanford 20/20 wicketkeeper Tyrell Tull, Dion Ferrier, Steven Jacobs, Darwin Christian and the talented Rajendra Chandrika to the fray, and certainly the other teams have their work cut out for them in this tournament which promises to be an annual affair on the calendar of the GCB.
No doubt, Bonar, as he did in the first tournament last year, has made provision for all who are willing to attend the festival, with Gizmos and Gadgets providing numerous green whistles and other green items in support of the G&G Georgetown Pitbulls.
Apart from that, the first 1 000 children (Under-12) entering the venue will be given free Igloo Ice cream, compliments of Sterling Products Limited, while patrons will be given a free ticket when they purchase 10.
There will be free money markers beyond the boundary ropes, where the batsman who hits any of the markers will be rewarded with the monetary prize that is hidden on the marker. The DJ Stress dancing girls along with Sonic Boom and 71 Sounds will be on hand to entertain the crowd.
Merry-go-round, go-kart rides, trampolines, ride de bull, teddy bear and games booth will also be available as added attractions to the day’s event, while all ladies will be given a free gift as they enter the gate.
Apart from the monetary prizes up for grabs – first prize of $500 000, second place $300 000 and the losing semifinalists $100 000 each – other individual prizes will be up for the taking.
These include the man-of-the-match, best batsman, best bowler, most outstanding fieldsman, wicketkeeper of the tournament and most valuable player in all matches, including the exhibition match.
Tickets are on sale in Georgetown at Gizmos and Gadgets, Suresh Grocery, Avon DVD Club, Jai Signs and Joseph’s Record Bar; East Coast at Discount Palace and Jam’s Bar; East Bank Demerara at All M&M Snackettes, Princess Hotel, Fresh Cut Barber Shop and Flamboyant Super Savings.
In Berbice, 20/20 fans who are asked to throng the venue by the bus loads can purchase their tickets from Universal DVD Club, Imran and Sons, Imran and Daughters, A. Ally and Sons and Lalsa General Store.
Fans on the West Coast of Demerara can purchase their tickets from Aaron and Andrew General Store, Triple ‘A’ Halaal Foods, P. K. Variety and Avon DVD Club just to name a few.
Tickets cost $1 000 each for Green, Orange, Red and Party Mound only, while car passes are available for $500 only at Joseph’s Record Bar, Joseph Junior, Princess Hotel and Dave’s Sports Bar.
Private booths are available for rental at $40 000 each for 15 persons, with three VIP car passes being allocated to each person who rents a private booth. Fans desirous of using the Presidential Suite, can do so at a cost of $2 000 per ticket. Car park attendants along with members of the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Fire Service and a medical unit will be on standby in the event of any emergencies.