The fourth edition of the Guyana Softball Cup was officially declared open last night by the Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC), Bourda.
The tournament will feature 24 teams from Guyana, Canada and the United States of America (USA) competing across two categories. In the open category, the winners will receive Guyana $800,000 or US$4,000 and the runners up will walk away with Guyana $200,000 or US$1,000. Meanwhile the winners of the masters competition will take home Guyana $600,000 or US$3,000 while the runners up will get Guyana $150,000 or US$750.
President of the GFSCA Ramchand Ragbeer welcomed the foreign teams as he announced the opening of the tournament.
In his brief speech he urged both the local and the foreign teams to be disciplined throughout their fierce battles.
Six matches are set for the first round in the open category which begins at 9:30 am today; at Everest, New York President vs. Savage Masters, Uprisers vs. Dant XI Canada and Cotton Field Wild Oats vs. Petamber Enterprises. At Eve Leary, Wolf Warriors vs. Corriverton and SFSPL (South Florida) vs. Parika Defenders Allstar.
In the masters’ category at the said time there will also be seven matches slated for the Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) ground, the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground, GCC, MYO and Ogle Community Centre ground. Thirty-nine preliminary games will be played between Friday and Saturday morning before four semi-finals on Saturday afternoon. The two finals are set for Sunday with the open final played under lights at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground. Admission to the various venues on Friday and Saturday is free, while patrons will pay $500 on Sunday.
According to the GFSCA, two 14-karat gold bracelets, accentuated with diamond studs, have been put up as the prizes for the Most Valuable Players (MVPs) of the Open and Masters categories, compliments of Steve’s Jewellery.On the day of the final, there will be lots of hampers and giveaways for spectators. Additionally, two spectators can win return tickets from Survival Travel Agency to Aruba.
All the spectators need to do is retain their half tickets and listen for their numbers to be called over the public address system during the final.
Two dozen teams will compete in this year’s event, with 12 from Guyana, seven from New York, three from Florida and two from Canada. During the three-day championship, there will be a total of 36 preliminary games, followed by four semi-finals and two finals.
Trophy Stall and New York Better are the defending champions of the Open and Masters categories respectively, while the previous champions were NYSCL New York (Open) and Savage Masters in 2012 and Cotton Field Wild Oats (Open) and Regal Seniors (Masters) in 2011.
According to information emanating from the GFSCA, this year’s tournament has an estimated budget of around $10 million.
