FOLLOWING their successful run in the just concluded Mackeson Stout/Digicel Sweet 16 football tournament which they won, BK International Western Tigers will be looking to continue in the same vein when they face Santos in a quarterfinal match-up in the fourth annual NAMILCO-sponsored football festival at the Tucville ground tonight. No doubt, Santos will be looking to avenge the semifinal defeat they suffered at the hands of the West Ruimveldt-based team in the Sweet 16 tournament where they lost 4-3 in a penalty shootout, after regulation and extra time failed to provide a winner.
BK Western Tigers reached the quarterfinals with a one-nil victory over Riddim Squad, with Lorenzo Duesbury finding the back of the net in the 32nd minute.
In tonight’s encounter, the reigning Kashif and Shanghai champions will be looking to striker Gavin Wilson along with Wendell St Hill, Nedd Fraser, skipper Sherman David and Vashile Cantzlaar to see them past their opponents.
Not to be outdone is their custodian and Sweet 16 semifinal hero, Travis Bess, who may be forced to give way to first-choice custodian Dexter Carter, who, along with Dwayne Ali, returned from their international engagement with the Golden Jaguars. Both are expected to be in coach Kevin Pearce’s starting 11 for the first encounter which kicks off at 18:00 h.
But Santos will be out to prove a point as they did in their third place match-up against BV/Triumph United where they came from a goal down scored as early as the 6th minute, to record a 2-1 extra-time victory thanks to Jermaine Fraser’s brace.
Their custodian O’Neil Heywood will be out to prove a point to his critics, while defenders Lennox Charles, Mark Glasgow, Patrice Graham and Jermaine Fraser know the work they have to do if they intend to keep Wilson and the Tigers’ strike force at bay.
Up front there will be the hardworking Glenorvan Edmonds and the veteran Gerald Whittington, who along with Shemroy Arthur, Quacy John, Kester Jacobs and Joel Lloyd can prove to be a handful to any defensive lineup on their day.
In the feature match of the evening which kicks off at 20:00 h, host team Fruta Conquerors who lost to the Tigers in the Sweet 16 final, will do battle with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and like Santos, they will be looking to make a name for themselves in this tournament.
To this end, their lineup which is certain to include the veteran Gerald Gittens, Trevon Lythcott, Eon Alleyne, Delon Williams, custodian Oswald Cornette and the two young strikers Pernell Shultz and Tavis Hackett will look to take their team to the final four.
But the opposition has some sturdy customers in Sheik Kamal, custodian Delon Younge, Eusi Phillips, Delroy Deen, Warren Gilkes, Marlon Benjamin, Desford Williams and Ryan Adolph.
With a first prize of $500 000 at stake along with preparation for the upcoming 21st Kashif and Shanghai Football extravaganza, football fans can expect two enthralling encounters tonight, as all the teams look to outdo one another.
Meanwhile, New Amsterdam United through goals from Kelvin Joseph (39th) and Adrian Adams (83rd) defeated Rosignol United 2-1 in their match-up to advance to the quarterfinals, with Rosignol United’s goal coming off the boot of Cliff Campbell in the 26th minute.