The Plaisance Community Centre ground will be abuzz with action tonight as the second annual Mackeson Stout/ Digicel-sponsored Bakewell Buxton Stars organized Sweet 16 football tournament kicks off.

Prior to the start of the first match between Mahaica and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) which is set for 18:00hrs, all 16 teams will be involved in a march past, followed by the opening ceremony which commences at 17:00hrs.

Remarks will be given by representatives of both sponsors before the Army boys start their campaign to win this year’s tournament, following their 2-1 loss to defending champions Sunburst Camptown last year.

GDF will be led by their versatile striker Stellon David with  Sheik Kamal, Akel Clarke and skipper Devon Harris, while Mahaica will be looking to striker Sherwin Nemblitt, vice-captain Delon Hope along with skipper Terry Mc Curdy and custodian Claxton Barlow to turn back the challenge of last year’s runners-up.

The feature match will pit BV/Triumph United of East Coast against Georgetown’s Fruta Conquerors and this can be an exciting match-up if both teams play to their full potential.

No doubt, Fruta Conquerors will be looking to make a name for themselves in this competition which has at stake $400,000 for the winner and with a new lineup which includes Manasseh Primo, Kwesi John, Marvin Humphrey and their custodian Oswald Cornette, the once dominant BV/Triumph would need to walk with more than just a game face for this encounter.

In an invited comment to Stabroek Sport, tournament organizer Sheron Abrams expressed her delight at arranging the tournament once again and plans to put it on par with the annual Kashif and Shangai end-of-year tournament.

“We would like to take this competition to a much bigger level, something on par with or even better than the Kashif and Shangai tournament. It’s in its budding stage at the moment but as the years go by, we can take it there.

It was a tedious task organizing this tournament in the first year as we wanted to give football fans something for their money knowing that the tournament was once played on the West Coast of Demerara,” Abrams stated.

“However, we sat down and looked back at last year’s tournament, paused and deliberated on our hiccups, made recommendations so as not to repeat them with a view of producing a better tournament this year not only for the clubs and the fans, but the sponsors who came forward willingly when asked to sponsor the tournament.”

The runner-up will pocket $200,000 while the third and fourth place finishers will take home $100,000 and $75,000 respectively as part of the $775,000 tournament sponsorship prize.

The Most Valuable Player (MVP) will be the recipient of one complete football outfit, compliments of Colors Boutique on Robb Street.