“I AM Guyanese; I will celebrate Football.” Those were the words of Banks DIH Sales and Marketing Executive Carlton Joao, addressing his audience at the presentation ceremony held to culminate the successful conclusion of the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) Banks Beer and East Bank Demerara Football Association (EBDFA) Coca Cola Premier League last Friday night at the Banks DIH Sports Club.
Present at the ceremony were Assistant Managing Director of Banks DIH George McDonald, Banks Beer Brand Manager Brian Cho Hen, GFA president Lt. Colonel Vernon Burnett and EBDFA president Wayne Francois.
According to Joao, Banks DIH was pleased to be associated with both tournaments, while he was high in praise for the GFA’s organising team who promoted a tournament on short notice, much to the pleasure of the clubs, players and fans of the world’s largest sport.
“Banks DIH was asked to play a role in the sponsorship of the two tournaments and we were proud to step up to the plate and do so, knowing that we were paying off a great debt to the society we serve.
“Other than that, Coca Cola has been associated with football around the world for many years now, so I did not see any harm in us continuing that relationship, when we joined forces with the East Bank Association to sponsor their Coca Cola Premier League,” said Joao.
Joao said many individuals approached him over the past two weeks, enquiring if the GFA/Banks Beer Knockout tournament would be an annual affair and while he readily admitted that he is not Nostradamus and he cannot predict what the future holds, he was happy to say the decision will be made when that time approaches.
“The GFA brought a fantastic organising team along with some very hard-working footballers who gave an excellent show during the matches, from the first one on the opening day to the final on New Year’s Day, despite the conditions underfoot,” stated Joao.
He added, “I must tip my hat to Lt Colonel Burnett and his team of executives who made the tournament a success, the Banks DIH crew who worked assiduously to ensure our image and standard was maintained and the fans who threw their support behind the games played.
“Not to be left out, the East Bank Association under the leadership of Wayne Francois also hosted a successful tournament which was won by the Banks Football Club, who along with Alpha United I take this time to salute for their sporadic efforts which landed them the title.”
In his brief remarks, Lt Colonel Burnett explained the brainstorming of the Banks Beer Knockout Cup which also was co-sponsored by McNeal Enterprises, Courtney Benn Constructing Services Limited, Coalpot Restaurant and Shantee Auto Rental among others.
He noted that the tournament was deemed a success with the support of the patrons, sponsors, clubs and others officials, to which he expressed heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the GFA.
Like Burnett, Francois was high in praise for Banks DIH for their continued support to football on the East Bank of Demerara, saying that the tournament, which was keenly contested, brought out many new talents.
In the GFA/Banks Beer Knockout tournament, Alpha received the championship trophy and a cheque for $3M along with medallions, while Fruta Conquerors took home the second place prize of $1.5M, a trophy and medallions.
Beacon Football Club copped the third place prize of $500 000 while Sunburst Camptown received $250 000 for their fourth-place finishing.
In the individual category, Alpha’s Andrew Murray Jr won the highest goalscorer award, Fruta Conquerors’ Colin Edwards and Marco Marcus Best Goalkeeper and Most Valuable Player respectively, while Milton Fraser was named the Best Referee.
In the EBDFA/Coca Cola Premier League, the victorious Banks Football Club took home $500 000, a trophy and medals, Grove Hi-Tech $200 000, a trophy and medals, while Grove’s custodian Rodwell Alleyne was named Best Goalkeeper and Banks’ Devon Forde MVP – highest goalscorer.
In a strange twist of things, Francois promised to have the third place fixture between Timehri Panthers and Kuru Kururu Warriors played as soon as the weather improves, while Mocha Champs, who turned up late for one match, were awarded the Fair Play trophy.