By Rajiv Bisnauth, in Florida

AFTER months of intense preparations, the 2017 edition of the Florida Cup Softball tournament bowls off today with ten preliminary games at the Brian Piccolo Park, Cooper City, Florida.The highly-anticipated three-day tournament has attracted a total of 14 teams, who will compete in the All-Stars and Masters categories.
Six high-quality and competitive teams will compete in the All-Stars Division, while eight well-oiled units, comprising players over age 45, will do battle in the Masters segment.
According to a schedule released by the South Florida Softball Cricket League (SFSCL), 27 matches will be played during the three days. Fourteen games will be played today, 11 on Saturday, including the four semi-finals.
The finals for both categories will take place on Sunday at the Central Broward Regional Park and Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida.
According to the schedule, Guyana will be represented by five teams; Regal All-Stars and Masters, Floodlights Open and Legends, along with Demerara Speedboat.
Floodlights Legends are the defending champions in that category, but they will be hard-pressed to retain that title, since from all indications, the tournament has attracted the best softball players from Guyana and North America.
While Chronicle Sport was unable to make contact with connections of the Floodlights Legends team, it was reported in the Guyana Times newspaper that president of the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) Ramchand Ragbeer has expressed strong optimism that both the Open and Legends teams will exceed their expectations during the tournament.
On the other hand, Guyana’s top softball teams, the Regal All-Stars and Masters, are equally confident of clinching both titles.
Both the Regal teams are the defending champions in the New York Softball Cricket League Independence and Legends Cup, played last July.
Speaking with Chronicle Sport after yesterday’s training, player/manager of the Regal Masters team, former Guyana and West Indies off-spinner Clyde Butts, highlighted that both teams are fit and ready for the challenge ahead.
“We have a very confident bunch of players, and we are confident of winning both titles,” Butts said.
The Florida Cup, now in its 14th year, has developed as one of the most popular tournaments in the USA. It has created an opportunity for cricketers from any and all Softball leagues to participate in a world-class tournament, which has been held in the beautiful Sunrise State of Florida since its inception.
The tournament, which has grown significantly over the years, is being held as part of Guyana’s 47th Republic Anniversary.