Some 32 teams will battle for the top prize and the right to compete in the national finals following Friday’s launch of the Linden leg of the 2013 Guinness in the Streets football tournament.
The tournament, launched Friday at the Edbert Benjamin Centre in Mackenzie, was attended by representatives of the sponsors, the organising committee and the competing teams.
Lee Baptiste, Guinness Brand Manager said this year’s tournament has taken on an interesting dimension as two representative teams from Linden will compete in the national playoffs to identify a team to represent Guyana at the Caribbean Challenge in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in June.
“Banks DIH and the Guinness Brand look forward to an exciting tournament in Linden, we hope that the community will take the opportunity to capitalise on the business prospects the tournament will bring to the town,” he added.
Baptiste told the teams to be disciplined and to set their goals high in anticipation of making it to the top.
Tournament Coordinator Cearon Sealey said that 32 teams will battle for top honours including defending champions TCL Russians and he predicted that a team from Linden will be chosen to represent Guyana at the regional tournament.
“Teams around Linden that are taking part in this year’s Guinness Greatest of the Streets are taking no nonsense approach. as they intensifies their training session ahead Most courts around Linden namely, Silver City hard-court Mackenzie High and the New Silver city Secondary School have been a hive of activities over the past few weeks,” said Sealey.
Teams include Amelia’s Ward – TLC Shippings Russians, South Stars, Rough and Rugged Speight Land United, Central Mackenzie, Retrieve Unknowns, Barsenal, Coomacka United, Exodus, Constab, The Amazing, Hard Knocks, Eagles and Attackers, just to name a few.
The tournament will run for 10 nights with the winners taking home $600,000, $300,000 to the runners-up, third place $150,000 and $100,000 to the fourth place finishers.
The Guinness Greatest of the Streets Guyana series got off to a flying start late last year with the Georgetown leg while the East Coast Demerara leg was played off during February this year.
The 2013 Linden leg of the Guinness Greatest of the Street commenced Saturday night with eight matches including an exhibition game between defending champions TLC Shippings Russians against a Linden All Stars team.
Tournaments are also scheduled for Berbice and Bartica before the national play offs.
