SIXTEEN teams outside the ambit of the STAG Elite League will get their chance at competitive action in 2017 through the second Petra organised and Limacol Sponsored Round Robin Knockout Football Tournament.Set for a January 15 kick-off date, the tournament will be staged when the STAG Elite League takes a break.
The teams expected to participate are: Winners Connection, Ann’s Grove FC,Milerock,who arethe defending champions, New Amsterdam United, Grove Hi Tech, Mahaica Determinators, Western Tigers, Camptown FC, Police FC, Northern Rangers, Santos FC, Riddim Squad, Eagles United FC, Den Amstel FC, Pouderoyen FC and Uitvlugt.
Those teams will be playing for a $500,000 first place prize and trophy while second, third and fourth will receive $250,000, $125,000 and $75,000 respectively.
Additionally, teams in the group stages will receive monetary rewards for their finishing orders with those topping the group getting $100,000, second place $50,000, third place $30,000 and fourth place $20,000.
According to co-director of the Petra Organisation,Troy Mendonca,the league will run parallel to the Elite League and be an avenue where teams can be promoted to the league.
Mendonca stated that, “Our business is to have football being played consistently. Our business as administrators is challenging and we have to rise above those challenges and have the game played,since the impact of the game exceeds that of on the field.”
Also present during Tuesday’s evening launch at the Spice Garden Restaurant was
GFF President, Wayne Forde,who noted that the Federation will continue to forge ahead with its work on the field.
New Guyana Pharmaceutical Finance Manager,Dwayne Lovell,who was also on hand, briefly remarked that, “The New GPC is proud to be a part of the tournament and hoped that the game can be played in a way where the teams respect the rules of the game and perform to their best.”

The drawing of the various groups along with venues will be done in the coming days as the tournament is set to host its grand final on February 26.