The sixth edition of the Petra Organization/Banks DIH Limited Guinness Greatest of the Streets Georgetown leg was officially launched yesterday at the Banks DIH Limited sports complex, Thirst Park.
The event, which is set to commence on Tuesday at the Demerara Park tarmac, will feature 32 teams competing in a round-robin group format over nine fixture dates.
The playing dates inclusive of the opening night will be November 26, 28, December 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 17 and 21. Venues earmarked to host the matches will be the Albouystown Basketball court, the Burnham Basketball Court, the East Ruimveldt Community Centre (California Square), Demerara Park and the National Cultural Centre tarmac. The winners of the tournament will pocket $500,000 and a trophy while second, third and fourth place finishers will collect $300,000 and a trophy, $200,000 and a trophy and $100,000 and a trophy respectively.
The top two finishers will also earn an opportunity to represent their zone in the national tournament. The defending George-town zone champions are Leopold Street.
Guinness Brand Executive Lee Baptiste during a brief address said:”This is the time of the year where Banks DIH Limited through its Guinness brand takes football to the streets. The tournament which started with humble beginnings in the streets of Tiger Bay has now spread into a Caribbean phenomenon.
“Banks DIH and the Guinness brand are proud pioneers of this tournament which targets and promotes development of and within the respective communities,” added Baptiste.
He stated that the continued longevity of the event further illustrates the company’s
commitment to the development of the sport while noting that a new feature in this year’s event will be the introduction of the skills tournament section.
“Every team will have to put forward one person for the skills tournament and we the company will sensitise the players through ads on television and at the games what is expected of them. Prizes will be awarded to the winner of that tournament,” added Baptiste.
Petra Organization Co-Director Troy Mendonca said:”We have reached a stage where every major geographical area inclusive of Berbice, Linden, West Bank Demerara, East Coast of Demerara will have its own tournament.
“As you would have known, we had a national tournament which the winner represented Guyana in the Caribbean tournament in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The teams will be divided into eight groups of four where the top two finishers from each group will advance to the round of 16,” said Mendonca.
Mendonca stated that the event is structured so that the respective finishers from each group will be compensated financially regardless of their position upon the completion of the group stage. He stated that the group winner will receive $25,000 while the second, third and fourth place finishers will each receive $20,000, $15,000 and $10,000 respectively.
