LED by a hat-trick from winger Jamal Haynes, Botafago FC outshot the defending champions Milerock, 11-7, in a tense overtime victory to win the Upper Demerara Football Association’s (UDFA) organised year-end futsal tournament.
The tournament, which is sponsored by Banks DIH, Jai Signs and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport ended on New Year’s evening in front of a large crowd at the Retrieve Hard Court in Linden
Playing in the final, Botafago looked like obliterating the challenge of an out-of-sorts opponent, looking formidable at one stage with a 5-1 advantage.
But Milerock showed heart as they rallied back to knot the scores 6-6 before the end of regulation play.

However, the difference was glaring in the extra period play as Botafago outscored and outplayed Milerock 5-1, to end winners, 11-7 and grab the coveted title and bragging rights for the next year.
Botafago’s forward Jamal Haynes who registered three goals and played exemplary, was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the final, while teammate, Omally Costello, snagged the goalkeeper trophy for his superb reflexes in the match.
Other scorers for Botafago were captain Donovan Francis, Shemar Caesar, Jamal Bentick and defender Amaniki Buntin who all had double strikes.

The scorers for Milerock, who received $500,000, the runner up trophy and medals for its efforts, were led by Colwyn Drakes with four goals, with a brace from Rajan Ramdehol and a single strike from veteran Rawle ‘Boney’ Gittens.
In the third-place game, Capital FC disconnected Haynes and Lewis’ Winners Connection 16-8.
In the presence of the Mayor of Linden, Sharma Solomon, Banks DIH Outdoor Events Manager, Mortimer Stewart and the UDFA President, Wainwright Bethune, Banks DIH Linden Branch Manager, Shawn Grant, handed over the $1M cash prize to Donovan Francis, the captain of the winning Botafago FC, as teammates celebrated their win.

Deputy Mayor of Linden, Dominique Blair, presented the MVP Trophy and $50,000 to Jamal Haynes while Kelon Neblett of Benny King Welding and Fabricating, handed over the $30,000 cash incentive and a pair of goalkeeper’s gloves to Best Goalkeeper of the final, Castello.
Milerock’s Colwyn Drakes collected $50,000 and a trophy, compliments of SteBros Construction Supplies, for being the tournament’s top scorer with 11 goals.
Other sponsors who supported were Jermaine and Son Supermarkets, B. Harry Lumber Yard and General Store, S. Jagmohan Construction, Majors Rentals, New Era Entertainment, Orin’s Supreme Construction and D.Sookram and Daughters General Construction, Benny King Welding and Fabricating, Kelmon Enterprise, Clive Chapman Associates and Semple and Sons General Store. (Joe Chapman)