FIVE (5) village champions will be decided this afternoon when the inaugural Government of Guyana sponsored Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports organized Inter-block seven a side football tournament gets underway. The tournament was launched in the boardroom of the MCYS last Friday, wherein Parliamentary Secretary within the Ministry Steve Ninvalle said it is feeding off the regular Inter-block tournament that first got underway in 2008.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony will be doing the ceremonial kick off at the Ann’s Grove Community Centre ground from 14:00hrs, following which Punthers, who will be led by Dwayne Rogers, will oppose the Antonio Jackson led Waterside line up in the first match.
In the second encounter, Ann’s Grove and Two Friends will do battle, with the two semifinal winners meeting in the finals from 16:00hrs where the overall winner will cart off $50,000 while earning a place in the national finals which is set for the Georgetown Football Club ground on November 26.
At the Beterverwagting Community Centre ground, that village champion will also be decided when Sideline Dam led by Colin Jones and Kwesi Price, take on Triumph whose lineup includes Linden Daniels and Mark Glasgow from 14:00hrs.
In the second matchup, the Delroy Deen led Back dam lineup will oppose Central BV for whom Shawn Daniels and Eon Dover will be making an appearance, with the two winners meeting in the final to decide who advances to the national playoffs.
At the Buxton Community Centre ground, Buxton Back and Company Front will kick off that village’s action from 14:00hrs followed by the Friendship Back and Friendship Front fixture, while the two winners will not only battle for a place in the national playoffs, but bragging rights as well.
The Plaisance round will be contested at the BV ground between Goedverwagting and 40 Block in the first matchup and 110 Street and Scheme in the second and just like the first three matches, the virtual semifinal winners will meet to determine who will be the Plaisance Inter-block champion.
In Victoria, the Samuel Blackette led Mid Section Lions whose lineup also includes Rueben Morris and Alden Lawrence, will oppose Road Front Elephants which will be led by Aubrey Gibson with support from Winston Pompey and Johnson Goodridge from 14:30hrs in the first match.
The second one which kicks off at 15:00hrs will see Backdam Super Eagles led by Brian Johnson, Ken Gulliver and Rolston Morrison, taking on Alley Warriors who will be looking to Pierre Joseph, Marlon Lashley and Ellis Skeete to take them through to the final where they meet the winner of the Mid Section Lions versus Road Front Elephants encounter later in the day.