EVERYTHING is set for the kick off of the fourth annual Berbice Football Association (BFA)-organised Dr Cheddi Jagan Memorial football tournament at the Blairmont Community Centre ground from 13:30 hrs today. 2010 runners-up Monedderlust Football Club will meet newcomers Manchester United in the first game while in the second game which kicks off at 1530hrs, defending champions New Amsterdam United will face Ithaca Hardlanders.
This opener is expected to bring keen competition to the tournament since these teams were preparing for long time, while a number of young players, who will be making the transition to the senior level, will be on show for their respective clubs during this year.
Monedderlust defeated Rosignol United in the semi-finals of the 2010 tournament and will be looking to commence their challenge for this year’s title with a new look lineup that is expected to create a challenge for their opponents.
To this end, players of the calibre of Alwin McDonald, the father/son combination of Kevin Layne (Sr and Jr), brothers Jamaal and Ceon Watts, Brian Henry, Arthley Bailey, Leon Josain and Travis Edwards will lead their challenge.
Not to be outdone, Manchester United who recently lost a warm-up game 3-0 to their opponents for this afternoon’s fixture, will look to avenge that loss with a convincing win and while their lineup are an unknown quantity, Monedderlust can expect a stern challenge.
The main feature may be a one-sided affair, if one should take into consideration, New Amsterdam United’s dominance of this tournament from the first year it kicked off in the Ancient County.
Brothers Adrian and Leonard Adams will lead their challenge with support from Dane Johnson and Colin Bowry, as the defending champions seek to maintain their stranglehold on the trophy they have held for the past three years.
Like Manchester United, the Ithaca Hardliners are unknown but it will be interesting to see how they fare against New Amsterdam United, one of the top clubs in the Ancient County who recently participated in the 21st Kashif and Shanghai tournament, even though they (New Amsterdam United) suffered a humiliating 11-1 loss to AIA Caledonia.
The tournament continues tomorrow at the same venue with matches commencing at the same time, with Pistons United taking on Cougars Football Club and Rosignol United opposing Courtland in the feature encounter.