MCYS/Ansa McAL June Madness Futsal Final…

THE great Magic Johnson in one of his many quotes, said, “Everybody on a championship team doesn’t get publicity, but everyone can say he’s a champion.”

Well, this would definitely be the mantra for either Sparta Boss or Road Warriors when the two collide for the inaugural title of the June Madness Futsal Championship at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Saturday night with their unbeaten records on the line.

There would be two things for sure, one team will end as the champions and keep their undefeated record intact while the other’s winning streak will be halted and they will be relegated to the runner-up position.

Either which way, one team will bask in the glory of pocketing two-million dollars as their reward for winning the championship the losing finalist will earn half of the winning amount.

This showdown, billed a Guyana vs Brazil collision is the perfect end to what has been a month of exhilarating battles which commenced with 48-teams and now down to the final four. The third-place game feature the losing semifinal teams, Back Circle ‘A’ and Gold Is Money.

A masters final will set the scene for the night between Spanish sides, Corinthians and Gladiators and this would be followed by an exhibition game between Influencers and The Champs before the female final takes centre stage between Lady Canaimas and Iconic Strikers, both winning their two group matches, respectively.

The Lewis sisters, Glendy and Glengy along with Sandra Johnson will spearhead Canaimas quest to take back to back Futsal titles having also won the national Futsal competition. Iconic Strikers will depend on the likes of Nikita Winter in goal, Akeelah Vancooten, Shanic Thornhill and Tynesha Thorne to deliver a win for them.

But tonight’s main event a Guyana’s Madison Square Gardens will be a gigantic battle between two sides that will fight until the end. They have both displayed the persistence to battle in times of adversity when your back is against, the wall, showing a resolve that’s second to none.

Fitness, game shrewdness, positioning, shooting to goal from unsuspecting angles, all part and parcel of this version of the sport will all be exhibited for fans to absorb. Sparta Boss will be aiming to add this June Madness championship to the National Futsal Title they won in early January of this year.

They no doubt have the artillery to unleash against Road Warriors and leading the charge would be their number one marksman who is one goal behind the leader overall, Curtez Kellman who has scored in every game they have played so far.

The semifinal clash against Back Circle ‘A’ saw Kellman blasting a helmet-trick and he will be looking to replicate that performance when it matters most. His fitness has been excellent and his understanding of the game as well as movements are all assets Sparta have in their collection to unleash.

Backed up by the ultimate strategist, Jermain ‘Panky’ Junor, a warrior in his own rights and well respected by all in this version of the game, and the nimble Kelsey Benjain (3-goals) Sparta has what it takes to topple the Road Warriors. Pencil in the likes of Darron Niles, Ryan ‘Bum Bum’ Hackett, Nicholas McArthur (2-goals) Jobe Ceasar and Omar Jones between the uprights, a sturdy opponent is what Sparta Bioss presents.

Road Warriors have looked a bit shaky twice in this championship, in the semifinal against God Is Money and Bent Street ‘B’ when the narrowly won, 4-3. They have shown that they are vulnerable but, like their opponent, they have also displayed a knack for winning against the odds and for showing up on the big stage.

They have in their arsenal, the tournament’s leading goal scorer, Luis Da Silva with 9 goals and he would find able support for almost his entire team Thaiyson Pinheiro, Matthew DeSouza, Joao Victor DeSouza, Arckson Andrezza all with four-goals apiece; and Duarte Dos Santos with three.

Whilst Road Warriors (36-goals) have doubled the amount of goals they have scored compared Sparta Boss (18-goals), they have both conceded 9 goals each, Road Warriors conceding the most in any one game, five (5) as compared to three (3) for their opponent which have conceded in three of their wins, the other being a clean sheet.

For sure it will be an evening to remember, who will win, well, that’s left to be seen. The organiser’s Kashif and Shanghai MS, have expressed gratitude to the Government of Guyana, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and Ansa McAL for sponsoring this inaugural edition of June Madness which has lived up to its billing.

Game time is 20:00 hours, sharp.