By Emmerson Campbell
The lucrative three-night inaugural Guinness Caribbean Street Football Challenge which kicks off at the National Park tarmac tomorrow night involving Back Circle (Team Guyana), Trinidad and Tobago, St Lucia, St Vincent and Antigua is the brainchild of proud Guyanese.
The Guinness Caribbean Street Football Challenge which will net the winner US$4000 and a complete Futsal hard court in their community was conceptualized by the “Guinness Greatest of De Street Football Tournament” which began in Tiger Bay four years ago.
Tiger Bay was crowned the inaugural winners of the “Guinness Greatest of De Street Football Tournament” weeks after it was launched with an exhibition game in Tiger Bay by the Minister of Sports, Dr. Frank Anthony and Banks DIH Director of Sales and Marketing Carlton Joao.
Two years later, Broad Street became champions followed by Back Circle in 2011. In 2009, the mining town of Linden caught the Guinness Street Football fever and hosted their first street football tournament.
This concept of street football was quickly embraced and grew in popularity and acceptance in Guyana.
When Broad Street faced second time finalist Albouystown in yet another electrifying finals in 2010, Geddes Garret, Brand Manager for Guinness Caribbean was invited to witness the event at the National Park.
Garret was immediately impressed and asked for all the information from Guyana and exported the concept to his other subsidiaries in the Caribbean. From there, the Guinness Street Football ‘ship’ left the shores of Guyana and docked in 12 Caribbean territories by 2011.
The ‘ship’ has come full circle and is set to take on another voyage, when Team Guyana (Back Circle – Guyana Stallions) and winner of last year’s Guinness Greatest in de Streets 2011 tournaments, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua, St. Vincent and St Lucia square off in the first ever Guinness International Street Challenge Futsal Tournament.
The visiting teams are all emerging champions in their own right and will be among the best the Caribbean has on offer.
Coordinators of the tournament are grateful for the discipline displayed by players, teams, and supporters over the years. Meanwhile Guinness Brand Manger, Lee Baptist has left no stone unturned and has skillfully mixed entertainment with top class Futsal action among the very best in the Caribbean for the weekend treat. Barclays’ Premier League, Stoke City striker and Guinness Street Football Ambassador Kenwyn Jones will grace the occasion while Jamaican Reggae singer Bugle is expected to perform on the night of the finals.
Spectators are expected to flock the National Park in their numbers to witness history in this format of the game with the number of participating teams from abroad.
Kick off time is 19:00 hrs and admission is $500.
