THERE is no doubt that whenever Albouystown ‘B’ and Sparta Boss are scheduled to compete in this year’s Mackeson ‘Keep Your Five Alive’ Futsal football tournament, many spectators turn up to not only witness their performance, but also cheer them on to success.

Playing at home in Albouystown in front of hundreds of their supporters last Saturday night was enough motivation to propel Albouystown ‘B’ who, along with Sparta Boss, are the pre-tournament favourites, into the final six of this year’s tournament.
However, standing in both teams’ way, are four other teams, who qualified in Saturday night’s matches that were held at Punt Trench and School Street, Albouystown after clearly reinforcing their varying superiorities.
From 48 teams three weeks ago, only six are alive the first being Festival City, who dismissed Laing Avenue 2-0 to second-half goals from Odell Williams (12th), and Paul Bobb, who found the back of the ‘small goal’ two minutes later.
Deion (no surname given) then sent Alexander Village through to the penultimate round of the competition, which will also be played at the same venue Thursday night, when he scored in the 7th minute for a 1-0 win against Broad Street ‘B’.
Those supporters who walked from Alexander Village were given the opportunity to make the journey back Thursday night, when their team will vie for a place in Saturday’s final to be held at the National Cultural Centre tarmac.
Riverview also made it to the next round via a 1-0 win against Berlin, thanks to Andre Downes’ 2nd-minute strike, following which Broad Street ‘A’ and West Front Road played to a 2-2 stalemate, making their contest the lone one to be decided on penalty kicks, in which the latter came out victorious by a 4-3 scoreline.
Randolph Wagner put West Front Road ahead early in the game, with his first-minute strike before Rocky Gravesande responded two minutes later for Broad Street ‘A’, who increased their lead three minutes later, thanks to Keron Solomon’s goal.
Content on protecting their one goal advantage over their opponents, Broad Street ‘A’ had a lapse in concentration in the 10th minute, for which Hubert Pedro capitalised heavily to score the equalising goal for West Front Road, who later came out on top in the penalty kicks shootout.
As expected, the crowd erupted into loud cheers when the home team, Albouystown ‘B’ took the court to warm-up before their game against Wolves (Sophia), expecting a humiliating defeat to be inflicted on the Sophia-based team.
However, that was not to be, as only Devon Forde’s 2nd minute strike separated the teams as Albouystown ‘B’ moved into the next round. Their supporters rooted for more goals but to no avail.
Similar eruptions greeted Sparta Boss that boast former national striker Devon Millington along with his competent sidekick, Dennis Edwards, the duo who accounted for the team’s goals throughout the tournament.
It was no different against Liliendaal, as Millington scored in the second minute for the up-tempo and fast-paced team while Edwards finished in the 12th minute for a 2-0 win that kept them on a collision course with Albouystown ‘B’.