BK Tigers, Fruta Conquerors battle for supremacy tonight
… Santos face BVTU for third place finish
THE stage is set, the respective prizes are known and all the actors have their scripts for tonight’s grand finale in the third annual Mackeson Stout/Digicel-sponsored, Bakewell Buxton Stars-organised Sweet 16 football tournament, to be held at the Plaisance/Industry Community Centre ground. Reigning Kashif and Shanghai champions BK International Western Tigers will be doing battle with one of their Georgetown nemeses in the Tucville-based Fruta Conquerors Football Club (FCFC) in the main clash from 21:00 h which will be preceded by the third place playoff between Santos and BV/Triumph United (BVTU) which kicks off at 19:00 h.
If the West Ruimveldt-based BK International Tigers have intentions of walking away with the $400 000 first place cash prize and trophy, they would need to work on their finishing as they have wasted numerous opportunities against all of their opponents to date.
Even though they got past Georgetown Football Club (GFC) 4-1 followed by a 5-0 whipping over Winners Connection in their first two rounds, they struggled to find the back of the net on numerous occasions, especially against Santos in their semifinal match-up.
Their striker Gavin Wilson has been struggling to maintain the form that landed him three goals in his team’s first match but still remains in contention for the top goalscorer prize and should be looking to walk away with that prize, but most importantly, see his team cart off the top prize of $400 000.
Wilson would hope his teammates in the calibre of Wendell St Hill, Devon Moseley, Ryan Thomas, Nedd Fraser, skipper Sherman David and Vashile Cantzlaar walk with their ‘A’ game for this encounter while custodian Travis Bess who will be tasked with protecting the uprights, repeat his efforts displayed against Santos in the semifinals.
The youthful looking Fruta Conquerors line-up will definitely be looking to spring a surprise on their opponents as was evident in their very own NAMILCO Football Festival where they defeated Seawall United on penalty kicks.
Their path to this stage of the competition came via 1-0 victories over Mahaica Determinators and Golden Stars respectively, while they had to battle for 120 minutes with BV/Triumph United before coming away with a 5-4 penalty kick victory.
The veteran Gerald Gittens is a formidable foe many local footballers dream of not encountering in the midfield, and with a competent support staff of players such as  Pernell Schultz, Delon Williams, Trevon Lycoth, Eon Alleyne and Wayne Lawrence, anything can happen in the most popular sport in the universe.
Custodian Oswald Cornette will be hoping he does not have to endure another penalty-kick shootout, which would be his third in a row, hence he will be banking on his strikers to place the ball in the back of the net when given the opportunity by the opposition.
Certainly, the Santos/BVTU third place clash can serve as a perfect appetiser for the finals, since the players on show for both teams will be looking to settle a score with their band of supporters, who sent a series of verbal assaults their way after their semi-final loss to both FC and BK Tigers.
Michael Pedro, Glenorvan Edmonds, Jermaine Fraser, William Europe, Kester Jacobs, Gerald Whittington, Shemroy Arthur and their first-match hero Quacy John will lead Santos’ charge against the youthful looking BV/TU lineup.
Former national coach Joseph ‘Bill’ Wilson will want to prove a point to his critics that his side is ready to control football on the East Coast, since they are the lone team from that area to reach the final four of the competition.
The same problem that Kevin Pearce faces with his BK Tigers lineup, Wilson has to contend with from his side, who, despite numerous opportunities created by their players, struggle to put the ball in the back of the net.
Shawn Daniels will be looking to produce a Herculean effort tonight, since he wasted a golden opportunity to have his team play in the finals of the tournament when he missed a penalty kick during regulation time.
Nickel Fraser, Malcolm Wilson, Ronnel Gordon and Keon Chappell will be offering support to Daniels, while Devon Wilson has been tasked with preventing Santos from finding the back of the net.
Apart from the $400 000 cash prize, the winning team will receive a trophy and medallions, while the runners-up will pocket $200 000 and a trophy, leaving the third- and fourth-placed teams to be content with $100 000 and $75 000 respectively.
Individual prizes will be awarded to the man who scores the most goals, the best goalkeeper and the Most Valuable Player of the tournament respectively. The distribution of prizes will be done at a later date.