… cite flight problems
THE inaugural Guinness Caribbean Street Football Challenge tournament gets under way Thursday night on the tarmac of the National Park and when the sound of the whistle signals the kick-off of the lucrative tournament, only five teams, instead of the original six will be battling for the US$4 000 first prize.
This is so because Haiti, who were one of the teams, favoured to do well in the competition, have withdrawn from competing, citing flight problems as their reason for doing so, leaving hosts Guyana, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada.
According to one of the coordinators Troy Mendonca, the draw for the tournament will now be done when all the teams arrive, adding that one team will now have the luxury to await the winner of the two matchups, before they take the field.
Apart from the first place cash prize, a five-a-side multi-purpose facility will be built in the community of the victorious side, while the runners-up will take home US$2 000, 3rd place US$1 500 and 4th place US$1 000 respectively.
T&T and Stoke City international Kenwyne Jones will be present in the country during the period of the tournament where he is expected to interact with the teams and fans as the Brand Ambassador.
Meanwhile, national Futsal head coach Joseph ‘Bill’ Wilson has been drafted in to assist in the preparations of Team Guyana (Back Circle) as they attempt to win the inaugural title on home soil.
Full details on the tournament and its guidelines will be issued in another release.