…Over three million dollars and other incentives up for grabs
By Frederick Halley
FOLLOWING a one-year hiatus in 2025 to facilitate the staging of the One Guyana Unification Cup, the ninth edition of the Prime Minister’s Softball Cup, organised by the Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL) Inc., in conjunction with the Office of the Prime Minister, is set to return on the weekend of October 2-4.
According to the organisers, over $300,000,000 in prize money and other incentive prizes will be up for grabs in the mega three-day extravaganza with Prime Minister Mark Phillips serving as the patron.
Matches will be contested in the usual three men’s categories – Open All Class, Masters Over-40, Legends Over-50 and Women with the men contesting the usual 20 overs and the women 12.
Registration is already underway and interested teams are asked to contact the GSCL Secretary, Telesha Ousman at Regal Stationery & Computer Centre, 69 Seaforth Street, Campbellville.
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.
Among the teams expressing interest to date in the Legends Over-50 category are defending champions Jai Hind, Regal Legends, New York Softball Cricket League (NYSCL) Legends, Parika Legends, Fisherman Legends, Essequibo and Corriverton Legends.
Defending champions Speedboast, Ariel Guyana Knight Riders, Regal All Stars, Hyde Park All Stars, Name Brand/Corriverton and Ephan X1 are the teams already lined up for the open All Stars category.
Among the venues slated to be used are Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary, where all the finals will culminate on Sunday, October 4, Queen’s College, YMCA, Transport Sports Club, Demerara Cricket Club, Malteenoes Sports Club and Gandhi Youth Organisation.
GSCL president Ian John pointed out that the launching of this year’s tournament will be held shortly.
At a previous launching, Prime Minister Phillips lauded the strides made by the GSCL, citing the competition as one he hopes will continue to grow from strength to strength with every coming year.
The Prime Minister also indicated that he was happy to be associated with the tournament, pointing out that it was a signature event that people look forward to. He noted that it’s impressive how the fraternity ensures that the tournament grows bigger with each edition and made a special request to have more women on board since it is a huge part of their development too.
