AFTER two false starts, the first-ever Inter-market Futsal football competition is set to kick off at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall next Tuesday under the sponsorship of Banks DIH Limited, through its Guinness brand. At a simple launching ceremony held in the Mandela Avenue conference room of the beverage giant, Communications Manager Troy Peters did not only express his company’s delight at being associated with the tournament, but also urged football fans to throw their support behind same.
“Banks DIH has been supporting the Inter-market outdoor tournament for a number of years. For us, it is a well organised tournament, hence this year we had no hesitation in sponsoring the Futsal Inter-market tournament, under our Guinness brand,” stated Peters.
“Last year we had the Guinness in the street which was a successful venture for us here at Banks DIH, that’s why we decided to go with the Inter-market Futsal tournament, using Guinness.
“Having said that, I would like to take this opportunity to invite football fans to support this tournament, as the weather has been playing havoc with the outdoor side of it lately and I must say that Banks DIH will continue to offer assistance to the organisers of this tournament in the future.”
Sponsors such as Chetsons, Toolsie Persaud Limited and West Indian Sports Complex just to name a few are on board with this tournament – the first time such will be held – but despite the assistance, organiser of the tournament O’Neil Durant stated he has not secured the second to fourth place cash prizes as yet.
“Banks DIH has agreed to shoulder the cost of the first prize which is $200 000, along with the trophy and medals, but up to now I have been unable to secure the second, third and fourth place cash prizes which are $150 000, $100 000 and $50 000 respectively.
“Such has to be lodged with the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) before the tournament kicks off next Tuesday and I am confident that same will occur, as some sponsors who have given their commitment verbally, will be fulfilling same.”
Durant disclosed that 14 markets including outdoor champions Bourda Market, along with Mahdia, Ann’s Grove, Plaisance, La Penitence, Buxton, Stewartville/Leonora, Parika, East Ruimveldt, Vendor’s Arcade, Merriman’s Mall, Vreed-en-Hoop, Kitty and Stabroek will be doing battle for supremacy in the five nights of the tournament.
Also present at the launching ceremony were Norma Hamilton of the Guyana Red Cross Society and Toolsie Persaud Limited’s Marketing Officer Paul Ramdyal, who both said it was a pleasure for them to be associated with the tournament.
They both encouraged the organisers to make the youths of our society an integral part of their tournament, as it helps keep them away from ills that are plaguing our society today, none more so than drugs.
Approximately eight matches will take place each night of the tournament which will kick off with an exhibition match-up between Tutorial High School and Richard Ishmael Secondary School and a point to note for all participating teams, is the time each match will commence.
A failure to be there on time would not only ensure your opponents being awarded the match, but can result in disciplinary action as well as expulsion from the tournament, as the organising committee is sticking to a no-nonsense approach to indiscipline from teams.