Following an absence of almost three years, the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) officially launched its Futsal championship under the Stag Beer brand yesterday at the Waterchris Hotel in Waterloo Street.
The tourney, which is expected to last seven match days and will feature 16 clubs battling in an introductory round-robin format, will commence at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) on Homestretch Avenue today with eight fixtures.
The competing teams are Georgetown Football Club (GFC), Pele, Northern Rangers, Fruta Conquerors, Riddim Squad Western Tigers, Santos FC, Alpha United, Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and Renaissance FC Flamingo FC, Black Water FC, Guyana Police Force (GPF), Houston Stars FC and Black Pearl. Campbellville based club Sunburst Camptown has pulled out of the event and was replaced by Black Water FC. At the ending of the group stage, the top two finishers in every group will make their way to the knockout stage. Champs of the last tourney Fruta Conquerors, will head group-A which will also consist of Western Tigers, Flamingo FC and Black Pearl.
Group-B will possess the likes of Beacons FC, Alpha United, GDF and Renaissance FC while Pele, Northern Rangers, GFC and Riddim Squad will makeup group-C. GPF, Santos FC, Black Water FC and Houston Stars FC are the occupants of group-D.
Winners of the event will pocket $400,000 and the championship trophy while second and third place will receive $200,000 and $150,000 respectively with the corresponding accolade. The fourth placed side will walk away with $75,000.
GFA President Vernon Burnette during brief opening remarks said: “We at the GFA are pleased to be in partnership with Ansa McAl through its Stag Beer brand to work towards the development of football in Georgetown.”
He noted that the GFA and Ansa McAl through its Stag Beer brand has been in partnership recently evident by the hosting of the GFA Stag Beer first division league and said that he hopes that the partnership can continue to progress.
John Maikoo, Stag Beer Brand Manager said: “Once again Ansa McAl is happy to be in partnership with the GFA. We see this as a drive to develop football. The initiative is good, it’s good for the brand and good for the players.
“Stag is happy to be on board, we just recently wrapped up the GFA first division league. It was competitive and we hope next year it will be better. This is going to be a lasting relationship and I hope the tournament has a fair and fruitful outcome.”
In the opening fixture, Fruta Conquerors will faceoff with Black Pearl at 19:00hrs while GDF will take aim at Renaissance FC at 19:30hrs. At 20:00hrs, GFC will battle Riddim Squad FC while GPF will oppose Houston Stars from 20:30hrs. Beacons FC will then battle Alpha United at 21:00hrs whilst Black Water will tackle Santos FC from 21:30hrs. The two fixtures of the night will witness Northern Rangers engaging Pele FC at 10:00hrs and Flamingo FC battling Western Tigers at 10:30hrs.
All march past featuring all the competing clubs is programmed to commence before the kick off the first matchup.
