In movies, popular actor Jackie Chan often plays the role of the good guy, the person who rescues some heroine or the other from the bad guys.
In real life, Gregory `Jackie Chan’ Richardson, Thursday night came out of suspension in the nick of time to spearhead his team Alpha United to victory over the Guyana Defence Force in the final of the
Georgetown Football Association (GFA) Banks Beer Championship.
Alpha, which played unbeaten through the tournament, downed the GDF 3-0 New Year’s day at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence for their second title in four years.
Winners of the inaugural event in 2011, the ‘Hammers’ opened the scoring in the second half compliments of Richardson’s 63rd minute strike.
The former Major League Soccer (MLS) recruit, who was one of six players suspended by the club in October this year following the team’s game against Portland Timbers in the CONCACAF Champions League tournament, would then complete his second half double as he increased their lead four minutes onward. The title would then be sealed in the 87th minute as captain Dwight Peters etched his name on the scorer’s sheet.
With the win, Alpha United clinched the $3,000,000 first prize and trophy. GDF on the other-hand, claimed $1,500,000 and the respective accolade.
In the third place playoff, Pele FC squeaked past arch-rivals Western Tigers by a 1-0 score line. Deon Alfred netted the fixture’s only goal in the second half compliments of a 57th minute attempt.
Pele for their efforts, collected $1,000,000 and the third place trophy while Western Tigers walked away with the fourth place accolade and $500,000.
At the presentation ceremony, Alpha United’s Daniel Wilson was adjudged to be the event’s most valuable player and joint highest goal scorer alongside teammate Dwain Jacobs with 10 conversions. The newly crowned champs would complete a clean sweep of the individual prizes as Ronsford Williams collected the best goalkeeper trophy. Receiving the Most Discipline Team award was Black Water.
