This year’s Upper Demerara Football Association’s (UDFA) $3M futsal tournament which has $1M for the winners will kick off on Sunday evening at the Retrieve Hard Court in Linden.
Defending champions Milerock, last year’s losing finalist Capital FC and beaten semi-finalists Winners Connection and Botafago are heading the four groups involving the fourteen clubs vying for the two top spots to make it through to the quarterfinals.

Group A has Amelia’s Ward, Botafago, Net Rockers and Silver Shattas while Group B comprises Capital FC, Fearless and Topp XX.
Group C has Blueberry Hill, Eagles United, Hi Stars and Milerock and Group D features Coomacka, Rockstone and Winners Connection.

Come Sunday there will be the march past of the fourteen clubs in their respective uniforms led by the Linden Corps of Drums at 18.00hrs sharp, where the officials, sponsors representatives and UDFA officials will participate.

Following the official march past, preliminary round group play starts at 19.00hrs with the first match featuring Winners Connection and Coomacka.
This will be followed by Blueberry Hill United against Milerock, Eagles United take on Hi Stars, Amelia’s Ward challenge Net Rockers, Silver Shattas clash with Botafago and the final game brings together Topp XX FC and Capital FC.

After Sunday’s opening fixtures the competition continues on Monday with six more round robin matches at the Retrieve Hard Court starting a 19.00hrs.

The Major sponsor of this annual tournament once more in a big way is Banks DIH through their Guinness, GT Beers, Banks Beer, RYDA Wine and Rainforest Water brands.

The Linden Branch Manager of Banks DIH Mr. Shawn Grant handed over an undisclosed cheque to Organising Secretary of the UDFA Mr. James Trotman in the presence of other Banks Linden employees and UDFA executives on Wednesday, at the Banks DIH Linden Branch office.

The tournament’s fixture was drawn in the presence of club captains at the YMCA office in Retrieve.

Other sponsors are Bella’s Lumber Yard, Semple and Sons Hardware, Jerrmine and Sons Grocery Stores, Foreign Links and Jagmohan’s Construction Company. (Joe Chapman)