The four team captains for today’s Guyana Football Federation (GFF)/STAG Elite League semi-finals are all hopeful of victory and are all eyeing the championship title when the whistle goes at the Leonora Sports facility, West Coast Demerara.Addressing the media yesterday at the GFF’s head office, Fruta Conquerors captain Trevon Lythcott, Pele’s Konata Manning, Slingerz’s Vurlon Mills and Alpha United captain Daniel Wilson all expressed hopes of winning their respective matches.
Slingerz who won 13 of their 14 preliminary matches and are down to face Pele from 18:00hrs are highly favoured to advance to the final while the feature match will see Fruta Conquerors, who placed second in the preliminary round, tackle Alpha United from 20:00hrs.
Addressing members of the media yesterday, Lythcott wished his opponents the best of luck and thanked the GFF for having his Fruta Conquerors outfit participate in the tournament, adding “I see my team coming out on top.”
Alpha United’s Daniel Wilson in response said it has been a wonderful tournament so far and his team have prepared well for the semi-finals and he is hoping that his team will come out on top.
Speaking on behalf of Slingerz, Mills said it has been a great experience playing the STAG Elite League and it is only fair that the team give their supporters something to cheer about, come tonight.
Mills urged the sporting public, especially football fans to come out in their numbers and witness the two semi-finals which, according to him (Mills), will be very entertaining.
Pele’s Konata Manning, in very brief remarks, commended the GFF and Ansa McAl for staging such a tournament which will allow local players to achieve a higher standard of football.
GFF president Wayne Forde used the opportunity to recognise the contributions that Ansa McAl has been making to the sport locally.
The league, according to Forde, allowed the clubs to build capacity in their club structure which in turn will move them to international standards.
Forde also encouraged football fans to come out in their numbers as two exciting matches are anticipated.
Ansa McAl’s Stag Beer Brand coordinator said his company is happy to be on board with the GFF’s programme. He added that he would like to see new faces (teams) being a part of the STAG Elite League and urged those teams who were not a part of the current League to step up to the `plate’.
Meanwhile, the GFF has made arrangements with a bus company (Knightriders) to provide service to persons wishing to travel to the Leonora facility to witness the matches and this will cost each person $600 for the return trip.
The assembly point is Square of the Revolution, Homestretch Avenue and Vlissengen Road.
The first bus departs at 16:30hrs, while the last bus leaves the location at 19:00hrs.
The grand final is scheduled for June 19 at the Leonora Sports Facility, West Coast Demerara.