By Colin Bynoe
THE second annual GT Beer/BFA/Candy Boss and Antics eight-a-side Invitational football tournament will kick off today with two matches at the All Saints ground in New Amsterdam.
Thirty-two teams from Berbice, Georgetown, East Coast Demerara and West Demerara will be battling for supremacy and a chance to win cash prizes and trophies in excess of $1.2 million.

Paradise Football Club will do battle with Black Sharks FC in the opening game of the double-header card with Corentyne All Stars squaring off against Rosignol FC in the feature encounter.

There will be an opening ceremony at 18:00hrs where the Mayor of New Amsterdam, Her Worship Winifred Haywood has been invited to preside over the ceremonial kick-off.
Mayor Haywood in brief remarks at the launch on Friday at the New Amsterdam Town Council Chambers welcomed the tournament to the township.

“We are delighted to welcome this tournament in New Amsterdam once again. It clearly shows that the first event was a success so I would like to congratulate the organisers and to thank major sponsor Banks DIH Limited for supporting this event,” she added.
Banks DIH Limited Communications Manager Troy Peters said that his company continues to support sport locally as part of its corporate social responsibility.

“This yearend tournament is expected to bring top class competition to Berbice and we applaud the organisers for promoting football in the region,” he added.
Other speakers included Jevaun Stephens, Director of Health Services of Region Six, who represented Director of Sport Christopher Jones.

Stephens said the National Sports Commission and the Region Six Health Services have renewed their support of the tournament.
Matches will be played every Friday and Sunday until the grand final on January 5, 2019 at All Saints ground. The tournament has been sanctioned by the GFF and the Berbice Football Association.

The competing teams are Paradise, Black Sharks, Rosignol, Corentyne All Stars, Georgetown Police, Berbice Police, Santos, Wolves, Corriverton Links, Beacon, NA United, Uitvlugt, Cougars Arsenals East, 41 Scheme, Cougars Arsenals West, GDF, Hearts of Oak, Orealla Falcons, Monedderlust, Pouderoyen, Timehri Panthers, BV United, Hopetown United, Mahaica Determinators, Number 5, Grove Hi-Tech, Edinburg Gunners, NA Prisons, Golden Stars, Soccer City, Hopetown FC and Siparuta.