With an opportunity to represent Guyana at the Caribbean tournament at stake, the third edition of the Guinness Greatest of the Streets national championships was officially launched yesterday at the Banks DIH Headquarters.
Guinness Brand Manager Lee Baptiste said that the company had made good on its challenge to expand and promote the tournament throughout the country, noting that the event has become an important staple within the respective regions.
He added that the event opener will be hosted for the first time at the Pouderoyen tarmac due to the response of their regional event, and said that the respective communities should continue to keep the street football flag flying high as the company aims to expand the tourney in the upcoming year.
Troy Mendonca, tournament coordinator, said that the Petra Organization was always happy to be a part of the event, adding that the comradery among and within the respective communities due to the event was nothing short of excellent.
Mendonca further said:“Knowing the background of the communities, the manner in which they organize themselves is commendable.”
According to Mendonca, the opening night of the tournament will be played on an elimination basis with the second night pitting the successful teams in two groups. He noted that top two finishers from each group will advance to the semi-final round which be staged on Sunday along with the resulting finale.
The event, which will run from Friday –Sunday at across two venues, will witness 16 teams from five different zones competing for over one million dollars in cash and prizes. The competing zones are Georgetown, West Demerara, East Coast of Demerara, Linden and Berbice.
The opening night will commence at the Pouderoyen Tarmac from 19:30hrs while the Demerara Park Tarmac will be the locale for the second and final playing night.
With a new champion to crowned following Queen Street Tiger failing to qualify out of their zone, the Georgetown zone will be represented by champion North Ruimveldt, Festival City, Leopold Street, Sparta Boss, Globe Yard and West Front Road-Gold is Money while the Linden zone will be represented by winner Amelia’s Ward Russians and Wisroc.
The Berbice representatives will be titleholder Manchester Boys and Unruly Gang while the East Coast of Demerara will participate in the form of champion Beterverwagting (BV)-A, Melanie-B and Nabaclis. Representing the West Demerara section will be West Side Ballers, Showstoppers and Patentia Street Ballers.
Winner of the event will walk away with $500,000, the championship trophy and the opportunity to represent the country in the Caribbean Championship which is slated to be held in Jamaica from June 26th-29th.
The second, third and fourth positioned teams will walk away with $250,000, $150,000 and $100,000 correspondingly and the respective accolade.
