THE privately-run Young Achievers Organisation yesterday joined forces with 20/20 Sports Bar to officially launch their Ansa McAl/Stag Beer-sponsored seven-a-side Inter-ward street football tournament in the mining town of Linden. Twenty-eight teams, spanning seven wards/areas in Linden will contest the event that is set to kick off on Sunday at the Linden/Georgetown minibus park.
Speaking at the launching, Ansa McAl’s Stag Beer brand manager, John Maikoo, expressed his company’s continued support for sports and sees the occasion as a means of giving back to the Linden Community.
Central Mackenzie, Christianburg/Blueberry Hill, Amelia’s Ward, Poker Street Flat, Mines, Wisroc/Block 22 and Half Mile/One Mile are the areas all vying for a chance to cash in on the $200 000 first prize, with the second- and third-placed finishers taking home $100 000 and $50 000 respectively.
“We are proud to be associated with the event and more so as the main sponsor. Business-wise, Linden has embraced Stag Beer and has given us tremendous support, so this is just one way of giving something back to the community which I know loves sports” Maikoo said.
He added, “I know for a fact that the competition will be good and it will be big, but this is just the start of something big coming from Ansa McAl. We want to do a lot for sports, not just sponsor events but also be advocates in community development and work on enhancing sports around the country.”
The tournament has received the full support of the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) whose vice-president, Sharma Solomon, expressed his delight in his entity’s endorsing of an event which will unite communities in Linden.
“This event will do something special for football because it will bring out people within the various areas in Linden which will create a festive atmosphere. I know for a fact it will be a competitive tournament because it will showcase some never-before-seen talents,” Solomon noted.
He thanked Ansa McAl and Stag Beer for their sponsorship, stating “It’s companies like these that keep sports alive and well in the country, as it’s nice that they can give something back to the community and I know that it will truly be a community event because of how it’s set.
We at the UDFA are here to make sure that it’s played with the rules and guidelines of football and to make sure that it’s run smoothly.”
Today is the deadline for registration of teams who will have to pay an entrance fee of $2 000 and according to one of the organisers, Anthony White, so far the event has almost reached its maximum of teams.
White said that the response since “word got out” has been overwhelming and most of the wards have already registered their four teams while some are working out internal problems as regards selection.
He (White) said a ‘no-nonsense’ method of approach will be taken by the organisers since they would want to preserve the good name of its sponsors and that of the UDFA.