– Paiwomak women defeat Kamarang in female final

By Faizool Deo

REGION ONE, represented by Moruca, iced the cake of a dominant 2019 Heritage Games by winning the male football title in the feature clash on Sunday night in front of thousands of onlookers from various parts of Guyana.

Prior to the 1-0 win, Region Nine’s Paiwomak Warriors were able to register a 2-1 come-from-behind victory against Kamarang to claim their title as best indigenous female football team.

Although the spectators, who flocked to the Everest Cricket Club ground, were from various regions and ethnicities, the majority were supportive of Region One.  

On the field, the game proved a competitive battle with both teams having their fair share of possessions in the first half.  The attacks happened in waves and although there were a few half chances, the two keepers were too good.

It was not until a heavy shower wet the ground in the second half that the pendulum swung.

A blunder by the Kako Cobra Sports Club goalie gifted defender Anand Rodrigues the perfect opportunity in the 18-yard box and he ensured that he made no mistakes off his right boot in the 55th minute.

Region One continued to attack, but as time expired, they settled into a more conservative approach, which they played with a 4-4-2 format.

Kako kept attacking and even decided to change things up when they took off striker Artherley Elliman in the late second half, but they still could not equalised.

Prior to the male clash, the Paiwomak women were able to score twice in five minutes to win their game late in the second half.

Kamarang had opened the scoring in the 50th minute of play via a Zulika McNaughton goal, but 20 minutes later, Paiwomak drew even off the boot of Jacklyn Williams, while in the 75th minute, Satuaka Sai sealed the victory.

After the games, the winners of all five sports (football, volleyball, tapeball, softball and archery) that were played over the three days at the  Everest venue, received their trophies and cash prizes from Vice president and Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock and Junior Minister at the Ministry, Valerie Garrido-Lowe.

Both heads of the GFF and Archery Guyana and executive members of the GVF were also on hand.