… Teams urged to be at venue 15:00hrs

FOLLOWING the postponement of the final on April 28 due to circumstances beyond the organisers’ control, fans can now turn their attention to the new date which is May 5 (Indian Arrival Day) for the conclusion of the Hamilton Green Cup Inter-Ward/Village 9-a-side Knockout Football Tournament, at the Den Amstel ground, West Coast Demerara.

Action starts at 16:00hrs with round of 16 matchups, before quarterfinals, semifinals and final are played and coordinator Lennox Arthur, the former National football player and coach, is asking all teams to be at the venue by 15:00hrs to ensure that there is a prompt start to the day’s proceedings.

The opening salvo of round of 16 action will see Timehri vs Mahaicony, Soesdyke vs Liliendaal, Mocha vs Charlestown, Pouderoyen vs Bagotville, Goed Fortuin vs De Kinderen, Sophia vs Bourda Blues, Den Amstel Back Street vs Zeelugt and Uitvlugt vs Vreed-en-Hoop.

Teams will be battling for a chance to claim the John Fernandes $300 000 first prize and Prime Minister Trophy along with hampers from Ricks and Sari.

The second-placed team will take away the Courtney Benn-sponsored $100 000, third $60 000 put up by Techno Mills and fourth $40 000, donated by Ready Mix along with the respective trophies.

All the trophies have been sponsored by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo.

Also at stake are the individual rewards for the Most Goals, who will take home a Dinette Chair from China Trading, while runners-up will be presented with a Lazy Boy chair from AH&L Kissoon, along with the Best Goalkeeper who will claim the Minister of Natural Resources Trophy.

Among the sponsors so far are Techno Mills, Ready Mix, Sataur Gafoor, E.C Veira, BEV Enterprises, BK International, IPA, New Thriving, Ricks and Sari, E-Networks, Star Computers, NAMILCO, Cummings Electrical, National Sports Commission, Star Entertainment, Alfro Alphonso, Guyana Police Force, GuyOil, Minister of State, Prime Minister and Ministry of Legal Affairs.

Arthur expressed gratitude to all the business entities that have supported the tournament, which is being staged in recognition of the contributions of Hamilton Green, former Mayor of Georgetown and Prime Minister of Guyana, towards the development of this country.

With the involvement of some of the country’s top players, representing their respective villages/wards, the event is playing its part in aiding Social Cohesion among the citizenry.

Among some of the players on show are Deon Alfred, Trayon Bobb, Tyrone Khan, Jamal Harvey, Sheldon Toney, Ruel Charter, Leroy Halley and Kenroy D’Aguiar.

Uitvlugt’s Trayon Bobb leads the goal-scoring category with four goals and he is followed by Bourda Blues’ Adrian Aaron, while three players are tied on two goals apiece.

Meanwhile, teams are being reminded that four substitutions are permitted in this format which will see the games last 30 minutes broken into two 15-minute segments.

The tournament will be played in the knockout format, with winners advancing to the next round.  Sudden-death penalties will be used to separate the sides in the event of a draw at the end of full time.

The no-offside rule is also in effect. All other rules will come under FIFA.