By Emmerson Campbell
Back Circle Stallions (Team Guyana) will look to trample on Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua, St Vincent and St Lucia and run away with the winning spoils when the three-night inaugural Guinness Caribbean Street Football Challenge kicks off tonight at the National Park tarmac.
The visiting teams are all emerging champions in their own territories and will be among the best the Caribbean has on offer.
US$4,000 and a trophy, a multi-purpose playing facility and bragging rights will go to the winner of the tournament.
Haiti, the other team which was scheduled to be in the tournament, is unable to take part in the event due to logistical problems.
During a media briefing which was held yesterday at the Princess Hotel, Sales and Marketing Executive of Banks DIH Limited, Carlton Joao welcomed the teams to Guyana and stated that Banks DIH Limited is extremely privileged to be hosting the regional championships.
Joao further mentioned that three days of exciting football is planned and the public should expect great performances from the teams.
He also reiterated that there will be a heavy security presence and patrons will be subjected to searches before they enter the venue.
Also at the briefing was Geddes Garret, Brand Manager for Guinness Caribbean, who said he is pleased to be in Guyana and congratulated the Banks team for spearheading the inaugural tournament.
Garret also noted that there is a passion for the tournament in Guyana that has been unrivaled and there is no other fitting place to host this regional tournament.
The Brand Manager for Guinness Caribbean also said that the vision is to make the tournament an annual fixture.
“These teams will be giving their best and the vision is for this to be an annual tournament and we want the standard to be set very high in this inaugural staging and I have no doubt that the team working hard will make that happen.”
Action starts at 19:00hrs and admission for the first two nights will be $500, while $1000 admission will be charged on Saturday.
In the first match tonight St Lucia will face St Vincent, followed by Guyana versus Antigua, and then Trinidad will tackle St Lucia. Antigua will play again as will St Vincent as will Guyana when they face Trinidad.
Tomorrow night Antigua will tackle Trinidad in the first match, St Vincent will take on Guyana once more followed by Antigua versus St Lucia, Trinidad will battle St Vincent and Guyana will then take on St Lucia.
After a round robin preliminary format, the top four teams will qualify for the semi-final. The winner of each semi-final will do battle in the final game which will be staged on Saturday.
The first, second and third runners-up will receive US$2,000 and a trophy, US$1,500 and a trophy and US$1,000 and a trophy respectively.
Trinidad and Tobago’s national captain and Stoke City striker Kenwyn Jones will be in Guyana tonight acting as the brand ambassador for the event, while Jamaican Reggae singer Bugle is expected to perform on the night of the finals.
Digicel is also a sponsor of the event.
