HAVING launched its inaugural Guyana Beverage Company Incorporated Busta Soft Shoe football tournament last Monday, the Petra Organisation on Tuesday night briefed the teams and at the same time issued them with their playing jerseys at the Spice Garden Restaurant.Present at the function were Managing Director of Guyana Beverage Company Robert Selman, his Marketing Manager Shameiza Yadram, Christine Kellawan – Marketing Director of S.M Jaleel of Trinidad and Tobago, Troy Mendonca and Marlon Cole of Petra and team captains and representatives.

Prior to the presentation of the jerseys to the 24 teams, Mendonca in his opening remarks informed those gathered about the playing conditions as well as rules and stipulations which will govern this tournament which has at stake $600 000 for the winner.
According to Mendonca, the Soft Shoe Tournament is similar to Futsal football, with the difference being the goals are a bit smaller and the players play in sneakers instead of cleats on a scaled-down football field.
In addition, teams will have only five players, including a goalkeeper, on the field at any time and all teams will be divided into six groups of four where they will play each other once, with the top two from each and the best four third-place finishers going forward to the knockout stage.
“I think this tournament will be an exciting one, not only for the players, but the fans as well and I wish to thank Mr Selman of Guyana Beverage Inc., for partnering with us to make this a successful tournament,” said Mendonca.
He informed his audience which also included well known Futsal referee Wayne ‘Harry’ Griffith, that the second- to fourth- placed finishers will respectively pocket $300 000, $200 000 and $100 000, while in the group stage, the first- to fourth-placed finishers will respectively receive $30 000, $20 000, $15 000 and $10 000.
“The group stage prize is in keeping with Petra Organisation’s aim to not let any team who compete in certain tournaments under our umbrella, go away empty-handed. However, in order for a team to collect their respective prizes for the group stage, they must complete all their matches,” stated Mendonca.
He called on the teams to demonstrate discipline at all times during the tournament, in order to remove the stigma of ghetto youths not being proper role models in society, while urging them to care the jerseys and wear them with pride.
“We know that when people hear about certain areas, most of them think negative so I am urging you to be disciplined at all times and demonstrate that at the community level, you can organise yourselves, be disciplined and can display a level of responsibility especially with the uniforms.”
In his brief remarks, Selman applauded the organisers for their initiative, saying his company, having plugged over G$4M into the successful staging of the tournament, was pleased to be a partner with Petra Organisation.
Guyana Beverage Inc. has been a part of Guyana for more than 20 years and always plugs back money into sports and only sports.
“Our main objective is to get the youths off the street and when the organisers approached us, we told ourselves that not only will we sponsor the tournament, but jerseys for all the teams who will be competing for supremacy,” said Selman.
As he has done time and time again when it comes to handing over sponsorship for any tournament in Guyana, be it cricket or football, Selman reminded the players that his company is not the organiser of the tournament and should not be approached if any unusual occurrence takes place.
“We are only the sponsor, not the organisers so I don’t wish for anyone to approach me and make complaints about any decision that has not gone in their favour, etc. Our aim is to help get the youths off the streets and away from the ills of society.
“By doing so through this tournament, they will not have idle minds to do the things that will land them in trouble, while at the same time we are keeping them away from drugs and other ills that currently plagues our society,” said Selman.
Kellawan said it was an exciting time for Busta who continues to remain motivated and committed to sports in Guyana, this being its the head company’s policy – giving back to the people, with the sponsorship of this tournament being Busta’s chosen way.
She informed her audience of some of S.M Jaleel’s goals and objectives when it comes to sports in the Caribbean, even as Busta products continue to bloom around the Caribbean and urged them to stay engaged in positive things and help Busta shape this event and make it a successful one.
Meanwhile, the action will kick off tonight at the Georgetown Football Club ground from 19:00hrs, with six exciting first round matches which will be played for a duration of 30 minutes each, whetting the appetites of those fans.
In the first game, Ballerz will take on D’Urban Street, Leopold Street and Tucville will engage each other, and Broad Street will collide with Sophia before the Busta 30 minutes break. The action will resume with Alexander Village opposing Charlestown, Sparta Boss meeting California Square and Albouystown matching strides with Hope Street-Tiger Bay.

By Calvin Roberts