By Calvin Roberts
“It is a very good feeling. It tells all and sundry that Santos is back with a young team and we are going places.”
These were some of the words of the manager of Santos Football Club Rawle Adams after seeing his captain Trevon Lycott collect the first place trophy in the Nestle sponsored Georgetown Football Association (GFA) Under-20 football competition.
Santos won the competition after they had defeated Fruta conquerors 1 nil in the final played at the Tucville Community Centre ground. They had earlier topped group A in the round robin competition with 19 points whilst Conquerors amassed 17 points to come out on top in group B.
The competition commenced on September 28 with fourteen (14) teams being divided into two groups where 168 goals were scored during the staging of the round robin format. A further 24 goals were scored in the six matches that comprised the knock out stage.
Apart from the first place trophy and medallions, Santos’s bank account would have increased by $48,000.00 which they received as part of their first place prize.
In a brief statement, president of the GFA Troy Mendonca highlighted the efforts of his executives and technical staff in ensuring that the tournament was a success.
“When you look at these tournaments and [what] they mean for football, it can only spell out one word, success. Such success did not come along easily as the executives of the GFA and its technical staff worked hard in ensuring that this tournament was a success.
“The players that were on show for their teams displayed tremendous talent that augurs well for the future. We had talented youngsters on show who have been given the opportunity to showcase their skills and also stake a claim on their team’s premier league side” Mendonca stated..
Mendonca continued to state: “As the president of the GFA, I take this opportunity to encourage each and every one of you to continue the hard work as you endeavour not only to make your club proud in the football fraternity, but Guyana on the whole.”
Also making brief remarks was General Secretary of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Noel Adonis who took the time to congratulate the GFA on a successfully run tournament and applauded their efforts in giving back to the sponsors.
“The GFA has given a new meaning to the term ‘it is better to give than receive” today. They have received from the sponsors of this competition and today they took the opportunity to give back to the sponsors through this medium. It is very important to have the sponsors on board as they do play an important part in the development of sports in Guyana.”
Buxton Football Club (BFC) who placed third in the competition and the University of Guyana (UG) teams were singled out for honourable mention by secretary of the GFA Marlon Cole.
“These two teams displayed a level of football despite being faced with various circumstances. UG did well to advance in the competition and even demonstrated to all and sundry that sports and academics can be done simultaneously whilst BFC performance was timely given the many challenges they were faced with in the community.”
By virtue of them receiving just two yellow cards from the 12 matches they played, UG was awarded the Most Disciplined team prize. Santos’s Laurex Fraser who scored seven (7) goals in the tournament including the winning goal for his team, when they defeated Fruta Conquerors in the finals won the Most Goal scorer prize whilst his teammate Glenorvan Edmond was adjudged the Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Fruta Conquerors’ Akel Clarke and Trevorn Lycott were adjudged the Best Goalkeeper and Best Defensive player respectively.
Nestle brand manager Ramdat Rampersaud briefly congratulated the GFA and promised a bigger and better sponsorship for this year’s competition.
