Three exciting nights of football expected, says Baptiste

THREE exciting nights of action, set to commence from this evening, are expected in the Guinness Greatest of the Streets football tournament.

Set for the Haslington Market tarmac, the event was officially launched yesterday at the Banks DIH Ltd’s conference room, Thirst Park.

Guinness Brand Executive, Lee Baptiste, stated that the company is pleased to be a part of structured community initiatives and programmes, adding that excitement and anticipation for the tournament are at an all-time high following a two-year absence.

He further stated that three nights of exciting football is expected, while praising Colours Boutique for its continued partnership, which has aided in the continued success of the tournament.

Similarly, Troy Peters, Banks DIH Ltd’s Communication Officer, stated that the curtailed season of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’, Championship, transpired due a lack of available time to conduct zone matches, adding that everything will return to normalcy, as the brand has major plans for 2023.

Meanwhile, Rawle Welch, tournament coordinator, thanked the company for the continued support and belief in the team, adding that the tournament has developed into one of the premier local sporting activities.

16 teams will compete in an elimination format. The winners of the first round, which is the round-of-16 section, will advance to the quarter-final stage. This will be followed by the semi-final round and eventual championship match. The tournament’s Plate Section will feature the losing teams from the round-of-16 section.

The competing teams are: Melanie-B, Paradise, Victoria Church Yard, Liliendaal Hustlers, Belfield, Uprising, BV-A, Buxton Diamond, Victoria Eagles, Portmore, Bareroot, Non Pareil, Team Cruel, Vryheid’s Lust, Haslington, and Old School.

All matches will be 20 minutes in duration consisting of two 10-minute segments. If a match is tied at the end of regulation time, two four-minute periods of extra time will be used to decide the outcome. If a winner is not realised in extra time, then a penalty shoot-out will be used to resolve the encounter.

Each team is allowed two fouls per half. Consequently, every third foul and subsequent infraction will result in a penalty kick being awarded. Fouls at the end of the first half are removed. However, fouls in the second half will transfer into the extra time interval.

Meanwhile, any goal recorded in the final three minutes of normal time in the second half, will count as two. This is called a ‘Guinness Goal’. The ‘Guinness Goal’ three-minute period will also occur and apply in the final three minutes of extra time.

TOURNAMENT FIXTURES
Main Draw
Round of 16 – October 28
(1) Melanie-B vs Portmore
(2) Paradise-A vs Victoria Eagles
(3) Church Yard vs Team Cruel
(4) Liliendaal Hustlers vs Haslington
(5) Belfield vs Vryheid’s Lust
(6) Uprising vs Old School
(7) BV-A vs Bareroot
(8) Buxton Diamond vs Non Pareil

ROUND OF 16 SCHEDULE
Belfield vs Vryheid’s Lust – 19:00hrs
Buxton Diamond vs Non Pareil – 19:30hrs
BV-A vs Bareroot – 20:00hrs
Church Yard vs Team Cruel – 20:30hrs
Paradise-A vs Victoria Eagles – 21:00hrs
Liliendaal Hustlers vs Haslington – 21:30hrs Melanie-B vs Portmore – 22:00hrs
Uprising vs Old School – 22:30hrs