SIXTEEN teams will begin the journey tonight in their attempt to claim $200 000 and 10 gold rings, when the STAG Beer ‘Skills for Gold’ 7-A-Side football tournament kicks off at the #5 Ground with a triple-header.

In the opening game tonight from 18:00hrs, Golden Grove will take on Mahaicony FC, while Rosignol U-20 will come up against Lichfield Net Rockers. In the evening’s final game, Monedderlust A will tackle Orealla Falcons.

“Football is a big deal in West Coast Berbice and we believe that this tournament will be big and is the first of many to come,” said promoter Borris Ross at a press conference hosted at Ansa McAl’s Beterverwagting (BV) head office yesterday.

Ross told reporters that along with some friends, the concept of the tournament was actually birthed in a barber shop, with the aim being to bring back football to the West Coast Berbice area.

According to Ross, making the prize for the tournament attractive is one way of bringing out the best of the teams and players. The ten gold rings, the organisers stated, are valued at $25 000 each.

The team finishing second will pocked $100 000 and also receive ten silver rings. Teams finishing third and fourth are set to collect with $50 000 and $25 000 respectively.

Lyndon Henry, STAG Beer brand representative, said that Ansa McAl was, as usual, happy to be on board, adding “this is what we do as a company and this sponsorship reflects Ansa McAl’s eagerness to help develop sports in Guyana.”

The Number 5 Ground will be the venue used for the tournament, which wraps up on December 30.