THE second annual Slingerz Football Club/Stag Beer ‘West Side’ Mashramani Champions Cup will kick off tonight at the Den Amstel Community Centre ground with what is expected to be an exciting double-header. 

Following the opening ceremony at 18:00hrs, Young Achievers will go head-to-head with the re-formed Pouderoyen Football Club then the home side and last year’s runners-up Den Amstel will clash with Eagles FC.
Action continues on Monday, February 24 at the Uitvlugt Community Centre, when defending champions and tournament hosts Slingerz FC face Bagotville and Uitvlugt will play Stewartville.
$500 000 will be awarded to the winners; second through fourth will pocket $300 000, $200 000 and $100 000 respectively.
Last year, thousands of football-loving fans on the ‘West Side’ flocked the Den Amstel ground to mark the launch of Slingerz Football Club. One year and two titles later, the club has grown to become a household name in the sport.
“This tournament means a lot to Slingerz FC and the people on the west side and our followers, because this is where we started. It’s the first time as a team we played in an official tournament,” said general manager Collin ‘BL’ Aaron.
Before the assembling of Slingerz FC, Den Amstel football club were the ‘team to beat’ in the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA). That didn’t change much, except now, the club, once the most feared on the ‘West Side’, are trying to reclaim the spot that they had before last year.
Ranking second in the league which was won by Slingerz who made an impressive unbeaten run, Den Amstel would be gearing up to avenge their 3-0 loss in the 2013 final.
Though they have never won a title, Eagles FC are one the WDFA’s most competitive clubs and are also known for being the spoilers in any tournament they feature in.
It’s back to basic for Pouderoyen FC. The club that once reigned supreme had undergone several make-overs; even changing their name to Seawall FC, but organisational reform and the return of some of their old stalwarts have forced the name change to its original one once again.
Fans are eager to see if the return of ‘Pouderoyen’ would make a difference on the field of play against an aggressive Young Achievers team.
With Slingerz FC celebrating their first anniversary, there would be nightly giveaways to lucky fans.
Except for the opening game tonight, all other matches (February 24, March 1 and 8) will be played at the Uitvlugt community centre.