Kumar issues challenge for national tournament in..

Thunder named Best Dressed Team at March Past

DIRECTOR of Sport within the National Sports Commission (NSC), Neil Kumar, last night issued a challenge to the organizars of the F&F Printing Establishment countrywide $1M domino tournament, for the hosting of a national tournament.Kumar was at the time, delivering brief opening remarks after observing the march past of nearly 505 of the 67 teams who will be doing battle today and tomorrow, competing in over 10 rounds of domino for the top prize of $500,000, trophy and medallions at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.
“I am totally impressed with the enormous job that you had to do and the total effort you put in to make this tournament possible here today….Domino is not a game that looks and attracts one set of people and when you look around here today, you can see a true reflection of Guyana.
I am not seeing one set of people, I am seeing a good mix and I am very pleased to see female teams competing amongst their male counterparts, with them being exceptionally good at the march past and I am totally pleased,” said Kumar.
Having showered praised on Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of F&H Printing Establishment, Fazil Hakh, and his son, Hazim, whose brainchild it was to have the tournament, Kumar said investing in the sport of domino is a good one, as they are giving back to the grassroots of Guyana.
“Here is where you are giving back to the grassroots people; here you are giving back to the people around the country. If you are going to have 67 teams competing, it is a true reflection of people who really wish to get involved,” said Kumar.
While he encouraged the players to be disciplined and accept defeat in the same manner in which they accept victory, Kumar used the time to set the organizars the challenge.
“You must host Regional championships. Bring together 60 to 70 teams from the various regions and let them play and from that you get three or four to qualify for national championships, wherein we can have a good system in place and at the same time have a national, association, sub-associations, and the incubator, the clubs,” related Kumar.
Meanwhile, prior to the draw being made for the first round of action last night, Thunder, for the second successive year started on a positive note when they strolled away with the Best Dressed Team at the march past, winning for themselves $30,000 and a trophy, from B6 and Gangster in that order.
Matches will resume today at 10.00hrs, with fixtures being issued last night to the various teams, while teams are asked to ensure adherence to time for today’s fixtures and also tomorrow’s which will be issued tonight.
The coordinators warned that it is the responsibility of team Captains to ensure that at least they are present for the draw and receipt of fixtures, with teams who will be affected by bridge opening, asked to take note.
Tomorrow, the quarter- finals, semi- finals and the finals will be played with matches set to commence at 12:00hrs sharp.
To date, all the zone winners of the preliminary rounds have already received their prizes and the following prizes will be determined at the culmination of the tournament tomorrow; winner $500,000, trophy and medals; runner up $250,000, trophy and medals; and third placed $100,000, trophy and medals.
The fourth, fifth, and sixth placed finishers will pocket $60,000, $35,000, and $25,000 respectively, while those teams who have made it thus far in the tournament and came out empty handed, will pocket $10,000 each.
In addition, the player who shares the first Double Love in the playoffs will receive $5,000; Best Female Player, $5,000; First Love (Finals) $3,000; Best Performing Team from far reaching areas $25,000; and Best Performing Corporation Team $15,000.
The organiser would like to take the opportunity to thank all the teams for participating, particularly those that did not make it to the playoffs, Kumar, Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports, Courts (Guyana) Ltd and All Season Racing Service and Dave Persaud of Trinidad and Tobago.
In addition, the organiser wishes to thank King’s Adverting for partnering with F& H Printing Establishment to ensure the successful hosting of this event, which F&H sees as part of its corporate responsibility and has committed to hosting annually.

(By Calvin Roberts)