The stage has been set and it is now up to the casting crew, in this case Alpha United, Santos, Pele and Fruta Conquerors Football Clubs to put on the show as semi final action in the G$2.2m Alpha United Carifesta football fiesta kicks off at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground tonight.
In their quarterfinal matchups, tournament host Alpha United who will be facing Santos in their semi final, disposed of Berbice’s Rosignol United 7-1 courtesy of an Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams helmet trick whilst Santos defeated Linden’s Silver Shattas 2-1.
When Pele faced Topp XX in their quarterfinal game, which was the feature game following Alpha’s drubbing of Rosignol United, O’ Kenny Fraser found the back of the net in the third minute to send the City team ahead, a lead that they held on to until the final whistle.
On the other hand, the disciplinary committee of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) was called upon to make a decision on the Sunburst Camptown/ Pouderoyen clash after the game ended in controversy following a penalty that was awarded to Camptown.
They ruled in favour of the Georgetown team who are also atop of the points standings in the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) Cellink Plus sponsored Premiere League competition, thus they will be facing Pele in the other semi final.
Both matches promises to be exciting ones, but the Alpha/Santos clash can be mouth watering for football fans, taking into consideration that Alpha inflicted a two nil defeat over them when they met in the GFA Premiere League recently.
Alpha will be hoping that Abrams repeats his goal scoring feat against a Santos line up who had to pull out all stops to prevent Silver Shattas from scoring a come from behind victory. Their forward Elton Browne who has been enduring a lean time recently, regains such for this encounter.
Add the diminutive Leon Grumble who was the mastermind behind two of Abrams’ goals, the dependable Quincy Madramootoo and Andrew Murray Jnr, Emerick Williams and Anthony Harding and Santos’ work will be well cut out for them.
There is also Golden Jaguars reserve custodian Ronson Williams between the uprights who on his day can be a stubborn customer in clashes such as this one.
But Santos on the other hand are no pushovers and will be looking to redeem themselves after the Premiere League defeat.
To this effect, Jermaine Fraser, Seon Mc Kenzie and Asagai Clarke, Chris Camacho and Glenorvan Edmonds who made his senior debut in the recently held Digicel Caribbean Cup, are all expected to lead Santos’ redemption surge. Their custodian O’ Neil Heywood will also have to bring his best game in order to see his team through.
The Pele/Camptown affair can also whet the appetite of football lovers, as Camptown will be looking to maintain their supremacy over Pele who has been struggling lately, something that was evident in their quarterfinal win over Topp XX.
If Camptown intends to remain superior to their opponents, players in the caliber of captain and defensive stalwart Orlando Gilgeous along with Devon Dummett, Sherwin Cadogan who can also input some overlapping runs and Kester Allen will be expected to remain steadfast in defence.
The hardworking Dexter Mollyneaux alongside Troy Prescod in midfield will serve as an added boost to Marvin Joseph at the top for Camptown. Their custodian Richie Richards has not been given much of a testing in this competition, and should expect a more torrid time against their city counterparts.
On the other half of the field, Dirk Archer will be expected to maintain his leading role for his team in the back with able assistance from Keome Gravesande, Marvin Liverpool and Solomon Austin.
In their midfield lies the stalwart Travis ‘Zorro’ Grant who is capable of destroying any defence on his day and with Troy Kellman and Fraser on the forward line, the Sunburst Orange Juice sponsored Camptown had better walk with their A game or face the plank.
Action is expected to get underway from 18:00hrs, with the final set to be played one week from today at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.
