WITH the self-withdrawal of reigning national and Kashif and Shanghai champions Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United, teams competing in the first-ever BK International Western Tigers-organised Super 8 knockout football tournament, must fancy their chances of walking away with the $500 000 first prize.
At the launching of the tournament last November, president of BK International Western Tigers and Attorney-at-Law Gordon Gilhuys called the day a very important one for him and the club, while promising to make the tournament an annual one. “Today is a very important day for me. About two months ago I sat down with my fellow executives of the club and we decided to organise this tournament, not only to raise funds for our club, but also to give football fans in Georgetown a glimpse of what should have been the Georgetown Football Association’s (GFA) Premier League.”
He added, “Both the executives of the club and its patron Brian Tiwari accepted the proposal, with Tiwari deciding to sponsor the first prize for the tournament which will be played under the lights at the Georgetown Football Club ground.”
The action kicks off today with a double-header fixture after the march past of the eight participating teams, with Fruta Conquerors and Riddim Squad from 18:00 h, while the Guyana Defence Force will take on Sunburst Camptown in the main fixture from 20:00 h.
The youthful Fruta Conquerors unit that includes the hard-working Trevon Lycott, Pernell Shultz, Lennox Charles, veteran Gerald Gittens and custodian Oswald Cornette should start as favourites for their clash with Riddim Squad.
While not much is known about the Riddim Squad lineup, their performance in their qualifying match of the recently concluded 21st Kashif and Shanghai tournament where they lost to Liquid Gold on penalty, should place them in good stead against the Tucville-based Fruta Conquerors lineup.
The main feature can be described as a giant clash, since both teams are capable of upsetting top-rated teams in the Land of Many Waters on their day.
GDF, who lost to Topp XX in the quarterfinals of the K&S tournament, will be led by Marlon Benjamin, who will receive support from Warren Gilkes, Eusi ‘Boneyman’ Phillips, custodian Delon Younge, the versatile Delroy Deen and national Under-20 striker Telson McKinnon.
According to president of the GDF Football Club, Commander Vernon Burnette, his players are looking forward to this tournament which they will use to redeem themselves, following their loss to Topp XX in the quarterfinals.
“We have not done much work since the Kashif and Shanghai tournament, but the guys are looking forward to this, based on their performance in the few training sessions we had so far. We will be looking to come out on top of this tournament, while at the same time, take this football year one day at a time.”
The Continental Group of Companies-sponsored Sunburst Camptown team will call on the services of their defensive stalwarts in Orlando Gilgeous and Rishawn Sandiford, Nigel ‘Powers’ Codrington to lead their charge and advance to the semifinals.
Apart from the $500 000 cash prize, the victorious team will carry home a trophy, while the second- and third-placed teams will pocket $200 000 and $100 000 each with trophies and the fourth-placers $50 000.
Individual prizes will also be awarded to the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Highest Goalscorer of the tournament which has as its sponsors, King’s Jewellery World, BK International, Star Party Rentals, Cummings Electrical, Keishar’s Gift Shoppe and Exclusive Boutique, just to name a few.