DEFENDING champions Timehri Panthers and runners-up Grove Hi-Tech will head Group ‘A’ and ‘B’ respectively in this year’s East Bank Demerara Football Association (EBDFA)-organised, Banks DIH Coca Cola/PowerAde-sponsored Premier Football League.
According to EBDFA Technical Director Mark Bradford, matches will be played on Fridays and Sundays at the Banks DIH Thirst Park and Diamond Community Centre grounds tomorrow.
Giving his overview of the tournament at yesterday’s launching held in the boardroom of the sponsor, Bradford told those gathered including Banks DIH Sales and Marketing Manager Carlton Joao, eight clubs divided into two groups of four, will be battling for supremacy.
“This year’s tournament which will be played at both the Diamond Community Centre ground on Sundays and the Banks DIH ground on Fridays should be an exciting one.
There will be over $705 000 in cash and prizes being distributed to the respective winners, while the EBDFA envisages the tournament to be an ongoing one, once we reach the requirement of the sponsor, for which I am certain we will.”
Speaking on behalf of the sponsor, Joao said they were extremely pleased to be teaming up with the EBDFA under the Coca Cola brand to run off the tournament, having last done so two years ago.
“As we are all aware, Coca Cola has been involved with football for many years now, as was evident during the World Cup and it’s no different around the world, hence we at Banks DIH feel pleased to be associated with this tournament using the Coca Cola brand of products, including PowerAde.
However, it is a shame that the matches will only be played at two venues. I personally feel that every community which has a football team should have a venue within their community, where persons within that community can come out and offer their support,” said Joao.
He added, “Every community where football is played needs help and the EBDFA is no different and Banks DIH and Coca Cola are proud to be associated with the development of football on the East Bank and while this tournament is their premier one, I hope they can increase the number of teams for next year’s tournament, if possible by four.”
Joao wished the EBDFA every success, saying Banks DIH is pleased with the plans that are taking place and the efforts put in by the Association, while he took the time to call on the crowd to offer maximum support to the games.
President of the EBDFA, Wayne Francois, was high in praise for the sponsors and gave his assurance that maximum discipline and security would be enforced at all times during the games.
Apart from Timehri Panthers, the other three teams in Group ‘A’ are Kuru Kuru Lions, Yarrowkabra and Banks DIH, while Group ‘B’ comprises Grove Hi-Tech, Kuru Kuru Warriors, Diamond United and Mocha Champs.
The games will be played on a round-robin basis, with the top four teams advancing to the knockout round where they will battle for added supremacy and only clubs who are registered with the EBDFA will be allowed to participate in the tournament.
According to the rules and regulations of the tournament, clubs will be allowed to register 25 players for the tournament, but are asked to declare 16 on or before Wednesday of each week by 16:00hrs, for the matches they will be contesting on the following playing days.
While the games will be played in accordance with the laws of FIFA, clubs are asked to note carefully the penalties or fines that are attached to both the red and yellow card.
Should a player receive a straight red card, he will automatically be suspended for two games and asked to pay a fine of $1 000, while half of such fine must be paid for a yellow card and all fines must be paid to the EBDFA before the club play their next match.
The action kicks off tomorrow at 14:00hrs, with two Group ‘B’ matches featuring Kuru Kuru Warriors and Diamond United while the feature clash will pit Grove Hi-Tech against Yarrowkabra from 16:00hrs.