A monumental semi-final round will highlight the Mayor’s Cup knockout tourney when Slingerz FC tackle Pele and Fruta Conquerors oppose Western Tigers today at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground, Bourda.
With 66 goals netted to date in the event, the feature contest at 21:00hrs should add to the tally as traditional knockout artists Pele faceoff with the West Demerara unit in their first ever competitive meeting.
Slingerz FC will start the fixture as the slight favourite owing to their current tournament form. The Vergenoegen giants have yet to be breached in two fixtures while scoring four goals in their 2-0 wins over Mahaica Determinators and Riddim Squad respectively.
In attack, Slingerz FC will have the services of a star-studded roster comprising Anthony `Awo’ Abrams, Devon Millington, Julian Wade and Vurlon Mills.
In the form of Wade and Mills, Slingerz FC possess two of the event’s marquee scorers with two goals apiece behind only the eliminated trio of Ann’s Grove Maxston Adams, New Amsterdam United’s Adrian Adonis and Rawle Haynes of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) who have each scored three times.
On the defensive end, they possess Colin Nelson, Joshua Browne and Les Charles Critchlow who will be hoping to maintain their unblemished record. Pele, however, will have other intentions in mind.
To date the Georgetown unit has also netted four goals in their two fixtures against Cougars FC and GPF respectively led by Konata Manning who has scored two. However, they have also conceded an unwanted three goals. While they possess the likes of Omallo Williams, Marvin Joseph, Manning and Okeene Fraser in attack, Pele will need an improved outing from the rearguard of Shemroy Arthur, Joshua Kamal and Keoma Gravesande if they are to contain the firepower of their adversaries. Rawle Jones, Pele FC coach in an invited comment said:”We had some good turnouts to the sessions and have been working on some attacking systems. We will now work on defensive systems and then work on both together.
“I know it’s Slingerz we are facing so we have to get tighter. They have valuable players and the match will be more competitive and study. It’s a more study game we have to play,” he added.
In the opening matchup, old rivalries will be restored when Western Tigers battle Fruta Conquerors from 19:00hrs.
Outside of Slingerz FC, the West Ruimveldt unit has been the tourney’s statistical leader as they have recorded five goals in their matches against Agricola Red Triangle and Ann’s Grove compliments of two goals each from Michael Pedro and Darren Benjamin.
Defensively the Tigers have also been assured as they have yet to be penetrated. Cleon Forrester, Ryan Adolph and Phillip Rowley have been the exceptions for the Tigers in the rearguard while offensively the likes of Randolph Wagner, Joshua Britton, and Marvin Joseph, alongside the duo of Pedro and Benjamin, will pose a significant threat.
Fruta Conquerors’ path to the semi-final has been a struggle highlighted by their penalty shoot-out win against New Amsterdam United and an extra time victory against GFC.
The recruiting of Alpha United’s Daniel Wilson, who is their top scorer with two goals, Sheldon Holder, Chris Camacho and Romario James following their max exodus of eight players, has proven a smart move by the Tucville giants.
The individual quality of the recruits, coupled with the likes of Jermaine Junior, Travis Thornhill, Delon Williams and his name sake Odell has certainly strengthened the side on the attacking and midfield areas. This is evident by the four goals scored to date.
However, with two goals already conceded in the event, Conquerors will require a dogged showing from the likes of Rafael Edwards, Lennox Charles, Keith Fletcher and Camacho to repel their impending opponents and seal the win. Coach of the Fruta Conquerors, Calvin Allen said:”So far preparation has been coming along fine. We need to correct a few lapses we had defensively and we need to do some work on our goal scoring because our finishing was poor the other night.
“We expect to come out victorious because we have put in the required work. We expect nothing but a victory,” he added.
Winners of the event will receive $1,000,000 and the championship trophy while the runners-up will pocket $300,000 and the respective title. The third and fourth positioned teams will walk away with $200,000 and $100,000 respectively and the corresponding accolade.
On the individual side, the tourney top scorer will receive a three piece living room suite from AH&L Kissoon while trophies will be awarded to the most valuable player and best goalkeeper.
Sponsors of the event include Banks DIH Limited, MACORP, the Busta Beverage Company, Sterling Products, TCL Cement Limited, Courtney Benn Contracting Limited and John Fernandes Limited.
