BEVERAGE manufacturing and distribution giants Banks DIH yesterday afternoon for the sixth successive year, collaborated with the Petra Organisation and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport to launch the fourth edition of the ‘Guinness Greatest of De Streets’ Futsal football competition.
Present were Banks DIH’s Lee Baptiste, Communications Manager Troy Peters and Aqua Mist brand manager Errol Nelson along with Troy Mendonca of Petra Organisation, members of the media and Wayne ‘Harry’ Griffith, Guyana’s top Futsal football referee.
In his remarks, Mendonca outlined the logistics of the tournament while he applauded Banks DIH, the teams and fans for their unwavering support in making the tournament a success story over the past three years.
“Petra is pleased to be associated with this tournament once again, wherein this time around we have attracted 51 teams to compete, thanks mainly to the efforts of Banks DIH and the Guinness brand which allowed Guyanese the privilege of seeing the Caribbean championships via Sportsmax last year,” said Mendonca.
He believes that the interest in the sport has grown tremendously and with his Organisation catering for 32 teams to compete, the additional teams were forced to compete in the playoffs, where the top eight teams will play against the eight who did not advance last year.
“We will be having eight games per night, including this preliminary round play-offs, from which eight newly registered teams will compete against the teams who failed to advance from the group stages last year, from which the two top teams per group will advance to the round of 16, which will be played on a knockout process,” added Mendonca.
According to Mendonca, who in his own right is a former president of the Georgetown Football Association, matches will be played at the East Ruimveldt Community Centre, Burnham Park, Albouystown, National Cultural Centre and National Park, which will host the finals.
In his remarks, Baptiste outlined the theme for this year’s tournament which is ‘Who will be made of more,’ saying last year was seen as the most successful year for street football since its launch in Guyana, based on the number of tournaments contested in this format amongst teams.
He believes that the broadcasting of the Caribbean Championships by Sportsmax- in which Guyana’s very own Queen Street Tiger Bay, who are the defending Georgetown and national champions-competed and placed second, had a part to play.
He disclosed that the Skills Challenge category of the tournament will be back in action, but this time players and non-players can compete for the top prize of $20,000, while he challenged all teams to be disciplined, as Banks DIH has introduced a Fair Play Award of $50,000 as well, in this year’s edition.
“The winner of the Fair Play Award will be chosen by the organisers and a special team they would have put together for such a purpose, so with that in mind I wish to say to all teams, ‘discipline in the key to success’ so play with discipline even as you battle hard for supremacy,” said Baptiste.
As it relates to the Skills Challenge Tournament, Baptiste informed that the defending champion has migrated, making way for a new champion to be crowned and called on the teams and their supporters to go on the internet, Google new ball skills and come and showcase their talent with the chance of representing Guyana.
According to Baptiste, Street Futsal Football teams in West Coast and West Demerara along with Berbice can commence their preparations since the tournament will be coming their way next year, along with the traditional one that is held on the East Coast of Demerara, Linden and the national playoffs.
“We are looking to spread our wings with this tournament which has gained international recognition, thanks to Digicel SportsMax, so three new areas in West Bank Demerara, West Coast Demerara and Berbice can expect our presence next year.
Not forgetting also, we host the tournament in Linden and on the East Coast of Demerara, with all the various winners coming together to do battle in the national playoffs for a chance to see who will represent Guyana in the Caribbean ‘Guinness Greatest of the Streets’ Futsal Football competition,” said Baptiste.
He called on City teams to look at the bigger picture, which is representing Guyana in the Caribbean tournament, even though the prize money at stake for the Georgetown championships is great.
The playing dates with their venues in brackets are as follows: tonight (Demerara Car Park), 20th November (Albouystown), 23rd November (Burnham Court), 25th and 27th November (National Cultural Centre), 29th November (East Ruimveldt) and 3rd December (National Cultural Centre).
On 6th December, the quarter-finals will be hosted at East Ruimveldt, with the semi-finals being held three days later at the National Cultural Centre, while the National Park will host the finals, third place encounter and exhibition matches on 13th December, with all matches commencing at 19:00 hrs sharp.
(By Calvin Roberts)
