The first annual Grassroots foundation inter-ward knockout tournament commenced yesterday at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground, Bourda with an exciting doubleheader.
Tournament organizer Mark Phillips who grew up in the Bourda district stated that he remembered days when the Alberttown/Bourda side was the powerhouse of Inter-Ward football tourneys and said he hopes to bring the event of community football back to its past glory.
“In the ‘80s it was one of the best community events and the fact that the dust is not settled yet in the present football fraternity, games at the association and federation levels are not receiving the support from the public,” he declared.
Phillips, who was also instrumental in organizing two successful GFA Banks Beer tourneys said: “The one million first prize is the biggest purse ever for community football tournament. By playing community football, we will bring out back the general football public with only a mere $100 dollars for entry to the event.
“The tournament will also be played in all the different regions of the country and the winner of every region will face off in a national tournament in August. Also any organization who would want to have message to put out to the communities, can also get on board”.
The feature showdown of the opening night at 21:00hrs saw a revival of old rivalries as the Okeene Fraser led Leopold Street/Lacytown outfit battling the star-studded and always dangerous West Ruimveldt unit, led by Devon Millington, Hubert Pedro and Randolph Wagner.
In the opening fixture at 19:00hrs, the Lumumba Hinds led Agricola outfit was down to battle the always formidable Laing Avenue side led by the trio of Jermaine Junior, Anthony ‘Sugar’ Abrams and Edward Austin.
The winning side of the event will receive one million dollars while second, third and fourth place finishers will pocket $300,000, $100,000 and $50,000 respectively
