PATRON of the ninth edition of the Prime Minister’s T20 Softball Cup, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Anthony Phillips is expected to officially launch this year’s tournament at the Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO) ground, Woolford Avenue, Georgetown, today, at 16:00 hrs.
The three-day softball extravaganza, featuring three men’s categories – Open All Class, Masters Over-40 and Legends Over-50 plus a Women’s Division, is set for October 2-4, climaxing with all four finals at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary on the last day.
According to Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL) President, Ian John, registration is still ongoing and interested teams are asked to contact Secretary Telesha Ousman at Regal Stationery & Computer Centre, 69 Seaforth Street, Campbellville.
The tournament, which is the brainchild of Mahendra ‘Anil’ Hardyal, proprietor of Regal Stationery Computer Centre, carries prize money of over three million ($3,000,000) plus several incentives.
Registration fee for all three men’s categories is $150,000. Teams competing in the women’s categories are asked to note that the first eight teams to register will be given preference with the registration fee set at $40,000.
The winning teams in all three men’s categories are guaranteed $800,000 and the runners-up $200,000, but these prizes are subject to at least eight teams participating.
Winners in the eight-team women’s division will cart off $200,000 and the runners-up $80,000.
The Most Valuable Players (MVPs) in all three men’s categories will ride away with motorcycles while the MVP in the women’s division will be the recipient of an electric air fryer. Players-of-the match in all four finals will also be awarded with trophies.
The winners, runners-up and all incentive trophies will once again be sponsored by the ever-popular Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall fame.
The respective defending champions are: Speedboat – All Stars Open, Ariel Masters – Masters Over-40, Berbice’s Jai Hind – Legends Over-50 and Linden’s Supreme Stars – Women.
The inaugural competition was held in 2017 with two categories (Open and Masters Over-40) while a female division was introduced in 2022 with four teams participating.
During the launch in 2024, Prime Minister Phillips described softball as “truly the people’s sport and I am sure everyone here played softball cricket, so I am very pleased to [be] a part of the Prime Minister’s Cup.”
Apart from the Police Sports Club ground, the other venues set to be used are Queen’s College, YMCA, Transport Sports Club, Demerara Cricket Club, Malteenoes Sports Club and Gandhi Youth Organisation. (Frederick Halley)