By Michael DaSilva

PELE Masters, Santos and the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) registered victories when the Pele Football Club’s 45th anniversary celebrations continued on Saturday at the GFC ground.Pele Masters, led by a double off the boot of OmallI Nassy and one goal from Alexander Bess, defeated their overseas counterparts by a 3-0 margin, while in the finals of the Frank Watson Memorial under-15 and under-17 competitions, Santos recorded a 1-0 win against Alpha United and GFC beat Santos 2-0, respectively.
Randy Roberts scored Santos’s lone goal from the penalty spot against Alpha United in the 17th minute, while Tyrese Rowley netted GFC’s two goals in the 65th and 36th minutes.
On Wednesday last, Alpha defeated Camptown 2-0 in a semi-final encounter to book a place in the final of the under-15 competition. Braton Cyariana scored both goals.
In the other semi-final, Santos defeated Eastville 1-0 to secure their spot in the final.
Roberts was adjudged the Most Valuable Player in the under-15 segment, while Calvin Peters was the highest goal-scorer with five goals to his name.
In the Under-17 category, Stephen King was named Most Valuable Player, while Kelsey Benjamin won the Highest Goal-Scorer award.
The Under-15 competition saw 24 matches being played and 46 goals being scored, with three players scoring hat-tricks. They were Camptown’s Mark Joseph and Andy Parks and Eastville’s Calvin Peters.
On Wednesday last also, GFC made light work of Alpha United, winning by a 5-0 margin to book their place in Saturday’s final, while Santos registered a 2-0 win against Black Pearl to reach the final.
Kelsey Benjamin, Matthew Harrison, Matthew Little, Rowley and Wayne Baker all scored one goal each for GFC, while Santos’s two goals came off the boots of Ryan Dowding and Teon Forde.
The finalists in both the under-15 and under-17 competitions received trophies, medals and uniforms for their outstanding performances.
Eleven teams contested the under-15 segment and 13 competed in the under-17 category.
The football festival is being sponsored by the Pele FC Alumni based in the United States in collaboration with the Georgetown Football Association.
According to chairman of the Pele Alumni, Dennis Carrington, the Alumni’s vision is to empower children in Guyana through sports to help them overcome their abject poverty by building their confidence , self esteem and ambition through the power of sports.
The one week of activities planned by the Alumni will culminate on April 1 with an Education Awards Dinner at the Georgetown Club, Camp Street, where winners of the School Essay Competition, facilitated by the Ministry of Education will be presented with Laptop Computers and School Assistance Grants.
Meanwhile, tomorrow, school, bags with school supplies will be distributed to youths that are in need of additional support.
Yesterday, the Pele Alumni staged a day of sports including novelty events and provided meals for all in attendance.
Kites were also distributed to the first 20 youths to arrive at the venue.