By Calvin Roberts
Respective winners of the just-concluded Carib Beer/Digicel-sponsored East Coast Demerara Football Association (ECDFA) Sweet 16 knockout competition were on Friday presented with their spoils at a simple ceremony held in the boardroom of Ansa McAl Trading Limited.
Prior to the presentation of prizes, newly-appointed managing director Beverly Harper highlighted her company’s delight at being associated with the ECDFA in the tournament which was won by Sunburst Camptown.
“We at Ansa McAl Trading Limited were more than happy to be a part of this tournament. We would be more than happy to play a part in the promotion of sports in Guyana as we intend to play a key role in the development of sports also,” Harper stated.
Also making brief remarks was Shirwin Campbell, Marketing Officer of co-sponsors, Digicel.
“The response given to the Digicel/Carib Beer Sweet 16 football tournament by the spectators proved beyond any doubt that this will be an annual event that has the potential to become an event on our national calendar.”
He added: “As a sponsor, Digicel is heartened by the commitment and dedication of all the stakeholders and the passion of the supporters irrespective of the weather. Through the revenue generated from our SMS promotions, the St. John’s Bosco Boys’ Orphanage received a monetary donation whilst several persons won phones. We at Digicel do look forward to the next Sweet 16 tournament with glee.”
Apart from receiving their monetary first prize of $300,000, victors Sunburst Camptown, who defeated Guyana Defence Force 2-0 in the final, were also the recipients of 18 Nokia 1200 cellular phones and one football from Digicel while Ansa McAl chipped in with five cases of Mackeson stout.
Runners-up GDF received $150,000 along with one football and three cases of Mackeson stout while third and fourth-placed finishers, BK International Western Tigers and Plaisance United received $75,000 and $50,000 respectively and one case of Mackeson stout each.
BK International Western Tigers’ Gavin Wilson and Camptown’s Marvin Joseph were the joint top scorers with four (4) goals each and for their efforts they each received one case of Mackeson stout.
Meanwhile, in an invited comment, captain of the victorious Sunburst Camptown side, Orlando Gilgeous, told Stabroek Sport that the victory was the result of all the hard work they had been putting in throughout the off-season.
”The winning of this tournament is a well deserved one for this team. It comes after all the hard work we have been putting in and still are continuing to put in during the off-season. That is the key to our success.”
“Primarily, we are looking at winning the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) Cellink Plus Premier League competition and also the marquee tournament on the football calendar here in Guyana, the Kashif and Shanghai competitions respectively,” Gilgeous added.
“We are focused right now and want to take this Sweet 16 success into our remaining games in the GFA Cellink Plus Premier League where we are presently sitting on top of the leader board as it is one of our objectives this year to win that tournament.”
Gilgeous also thanked the Continental Group of Companies for their timely sponsorship through their Sunburst orange juice product.
“Their input into this team has been playing a major role in the team so far and we will continue to work assiduously to win tournaments and make them proud. Once again thanks to Continental Group of Companies and also our coaching staff for their tremendous support…”
