… Riddim Squad & Conquerors into semis
THE final two semi-final spots are up for grabs this evening when the 7th Edition of the NAMILCO One Love Football Classic knock-out tournament continues at the Tucville Playfield in the City.Guyana’s leading club side and CONCACAF Champion’s League qualifiers Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United will match skills with Western Tigers in the first game with an eye on taking one of the two spots at stake.

The exploits of this side are well documented so it will not be too hard to predict which way the outcome will go, but ‘as the saying goes’ – it’s never over until it’s over. Western Tigers are known to have the big game temperament so Alpha’s work will be cut out as the Tigers will also fancy their chances of advancing to the final four.

Ronson Williams will be in goal for the National Super League champions and he will be supported by forward Kithson Bain, Captain Dwight Peters, Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson and Travis ‘Zorro’ Grant.

The Tigers will depend on their seasoned campaigners, Phillip Rowley, Hubert Pedro, King Solomon Austin, Jerome Richardson and custodian Derrick Carter to take the fight to Alpha.

Tonight’s feature game pits the pride of the west side, Slingerz Football Club against the Guyana Defence Force in what is anticipated to be an intense contest. The Army has always been a tough side and is capable of stepping up their game to match any opponent.

Slingerz has proven in their short career to date that they are a no nonsense side that is aiming to be the best and no doubt will continue on that path tonight. As usual, their quest will be led by the nippy Devon Millington, the dependable Vurlon Mills who is in fine form, the unstoppable Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams, Joshua Brown and Jason Cromwell between the uprights.

GDF’s challenge for a semifinal place rests with the likes of William Europe, Nigel Braithwaite, Kennard Simmons, Delroy Fraser and goalie, Rawle Success. Kick off time this evening is 18:00hrs.

In the first quarterfinal matches played, host team Fruta Conquerors and Riddim Squad booked the first semifinal spots’ following wins over Pele and Sunburst Camptown, respectively.

Conquerors disposed of the challenge from Pele, once known as the knock out artists in Guyana by a 2-0 margin. The game was by no means an easy one for either side but the home team played more compact and was the hungrier of the two.

Proceedings were settled in a two minute burst deep into the second half. Raphael Edwards finally broke the deadlock in the 71st minute much to the relief of his teammates and followers. Conquerors did not leave anything to chance and almost immediately put the sealer on the lid when Dwayne Lawrence rocked the Pele nets just two minutes after they established the lead.

Riddim Squad was finally able to break the jinx of losing to Sunburst Camptown, churning out a composed 3-1 win.

Camptown was not able to score on the night, it was an own goal in the 33rd minute that accounted for theirs. On target for the Mocha based Riddim Squad were Amos Ramsey in the 10th minute, Sceyon Hope on the stroke of half time and Steffon Ramsey in the 62nd minute.