By Calvin Roberts
Heavy overnight, early morning and midday showers left the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) ground in such a condition that the executives of the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) were forced to cancel their replay of first round matches Friday night.
Joint points leaders Blue Berry Hill who are locked on 12 points with Milerock Football Club were set to face Winners Connections who are in seventh position with seven points in a UDFA/ Banks DIH Coca Cola-sponsored first division match, while the supporting game would have seen Peacemakers opposing Hi Stars in a second division clash.
President of the UDFA, Bryan Joseph, told Stabroek Sport that even though the competition was being heavily affected by the weather at this time, they were not pressed for its completion as time was on their side.
“We are not pressed to complete this competition. We have three first round games to go and then the second round will commence. Hopefully those games will be completed by next Wednesday weather permitting.
“Even though we are not pressed, we are looking to commence the second round of the Banks Coca Cola competition next Friday.”
Meanwhile, the UDFA is commencing its second division competition to tie in with that of the Coca Cola first division competition second round matches.
Seven teams are contesting for two first division places at the end of the season – namely Rusal, Peacemakers, Hi stars, Ballweavers, Flamingo, Vasco and Regal United, with the top two going up to the first division where they will be replacing the two relegated first division teams.
At present only Eagles United who was once a force to reckon with in football in the mining town are facing relegation as they are yet to open their account in the first division having lost all their matches to date.
Defending champions Topp XX have 11 points and are sitting comfortably in third place having completed all their first round matches while Silver Shattas are in fourth position on 10 points.
Netrockers and Amelia’s Ward United are both locked on eight (8) points and they occupy the fifth and sixth positions respectively followed by Winners Connections on seven in seventh place.
Action in the first division competition is slated for this evening, weather permitting when Milerock will be looking to take over sole ownership at the top when they meet Netrockers from 20:00hrs.
In the supporting clash which commences at 18:00hrs, Rusal who had participated in the last Kashif and Shangai annual football extravaganza, will be looking to be the first team to accumulate points in the second division competition when they face Ballweavers who are no pushovers themselves.
Joseph also told Stabroek Sport that the second division competition will be played on the outskirts grounds on Saturdays.
“Not taking anything away from the importance of this competition, we have decided to play these matches on the outskirts ground such as Bayrock and Christianburg on Saturday afternoons. Due to lighting facilities, double headers cannot be accommodated on these venues, so one match will be played on each ground simultaneously,” Joseph stated.
