GFF Super League …
SECOND-ROUND action in the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) Super League competition kicks off today at two venues, with defending champions Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United looking to maintain the winning streak they are currently enjoying.
The tournament is being played under the Win in CONCACAF with CONCACAF Initiative programme and is being sponsored by FIFA through their GOAL project.
Certainly Alpha who lead the tournament with 23 points will be going into their match-up against West Demerara’s Seawall United brimming with confidence, following their victory in the just concluded GFF’s Super 8 tournament.
With re-elected president Odinga Lumumba calling for domination on the local, regional and international scenes, Alpha’s strike force, led by Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams and Dwain Jacobs, will relish the opportunity to get some valuable practice ahead of the upcoming Inter-Guiana Club Championship (IGCC) which kicks off on Wednesday at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground.
National and club captain Howard Lowe will be marshalling their defence this afternoon with valuable support from Kelvin McKenzie, Quincy Madramootoo, Shawn Bishop, Edison Gomes, Gordon Henry and Chris Camacho, with Ronson Williams standing between the uprights.
Seawall, who have endured a torrid first round, will be looking to redeem themselves in the second, and what better way to start than by chalking up a victory over the nation’s top team this afternoon.
This West Demerara outfit has a number of talented players who are yet to step up to the plate and stamp their authority in this tournament, if they seek to avoid relegation next season, as they have only four points to show after the completion of the first round.
Players of the calibre of Garlon Lewis, Delon Josiah, Zevon Atkinson, Toine Lopes, Marvin Griffith, Adami Hoyte all form the nucleus of the team and should be looking to step up to the plate in the second half of the tournament and, at the same time, set up an interesting clash against ‘The Hammer’ team in this clash which kicks off at 18:00 h.
In the opening fixture, Sunburst Camptown will be facing a determined-looking Guyana Defence Force (GDF) lineup, with the advantage going to the latter team who inflicted a 4-1 whipping on their opponents to take third place in the GFF Super 8 tournament last Sunday.
Veteran midfielder Troy ‘Bugs’ Prescod, along with inspirational captain and defender Orlando Gilgeous, national striker Nigel ‘Powers’ Codrington, Lance Rolston and Richie Richards in goal, will lead the Campbeville-based club’s challenge.
On the other hand, GDF, who like Alpha will be seeking valuable practice ahead of the IGCC, will be looking to make it two out of two against their opponents this afternoon.
Peter Parks and Telson McKinnon both got doubles in the 4-1 victory and will be in high spirits this afternoon for what can best be described as a vengeance clash for Sunburst Camptown.
The support staff for Parks and McKinnon includes Delroy Deen, Marlon Benjamin, Royan Morrison, Eusi Phillips, Warren Gilkes, Stellon David and Shavane Seaforth and a win for the Army Boys will draw them level with their opponents who lead them on the points table, having accumulated 16 points to their 13.
At Bartica Community Centre ground, West Berbice Rosignol United who are on 17 points will take on the home team, seventh-placed Liquid Gold, in another fixture.
Rosignol have been performing with a good level of consistency during the League and will love to improve that consistency with an opening win, but in order to do so Roncy Caleb, Newt Mahaica, Sherwyn Lewis, Delwin Fraser and Cornel Taylor will have to step up to the plate.
Liquid Gold are usually a tough unit playing at home and with the likes of Rondel Washington, Hamley Martindale, Kwesi Jacobs and Travis Garraway among others in their line-up, Rosignol United will have to work overtime if they intend to pull off a victory.
The other teams in the tournament and their points are: Milerock (15), Buxton United (12), Victoria Kings (11) and Bakewell Topp XX (8). Two more matches were scheduled to be held at the Enmore Community Centre ground, but were cancelled due to the unsuitable condition of the venue.