The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) officially launched the League Finale section of the Stag Beer Elite League yesterday at the entity’s boardroom in Section-K Campbellville.
The event, which will feature the eight competing teams from the inaugural League Genesis campaign, will commence on Friday at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ground, Vlissengen Road.
GFF President Wayne Forde said one of the major aspects of this event is to create financial opportunities for the clubs to develop.
“We are passing on all the concession rights to the clubs. The clubs that own these venues will be given that right and that is another way the clubs can improve the revenue coming back to the club.”
He added:”The intention is to empower the clubs. This is the only way we can sustain the league. We as a federation will continue to work with the business community to develop a partnership with all the clubs that are participating the Elite League.”
He said following the end of the League Genesis section, the concern surrounded the sustainability of the participants.
“The primary concern with regards to the league is how would the clubs sustain themselves and continue to participate because it imposes a financial burden on them.”
According to Forde, a new development will witness the bottom four finishers in the event receiving financial incentives.
Other novel features to the championship include the recording of all matches for the viewing on a YouTube channel.
Ansa McAl PRO Darshanie Yussuf said the tournament can already be considered a success due to its large following and pointed out that the intention of the event is for it to create more players for the national programme.
Identical to the League Genesis section, the League Finale will witness each team playing 14 matches across six venues. In the opening game from 18:00hrs, League Genesis winner Slingerz FC will oppose third placed finisher Pele in the opener.
The feature contest at 20:00hrs will then pit runners-up Alpha United against fourth placed unit Fruta Conquerors while the other competing teams are GDF, Georgetown Football Club (GFC), Monedderlust FC and Buxton United.
Upon the conclusion of the League Finale round, the top four finishers in terms of points will face off against each other in single knockout format to decide the winner of the round.
The semi-final round will commence on May 12th while the final and third place playoff will occur on May 23rd. The point’s leader will faceoff with the fourth placed side while the second positioned club will tackle the third positioned unit at a venue to be announced.
Winner of the League Finale round will pocket $4,000,000 while the second, third and fourth place teams will collect $2,000,000, $1,000,000 and $500,000 respectively. Similarly, the point’s leader prior to the knockout stage in the League Finale round will pocket an additional $1,000,000.
The season champion will then be crowned when the winner of the League Genesis and League Finale respectively faceoff in a single matchup. That winner will then earn an automatic berth at the CFU level.
If the winner of the League Genesis and League Finale rounds are the same team, they will earn the automatic CFU spot, with the second berth going to the team with the most accumulated points in both rounds non-inclusive of the eventual season champion.
Similarly, if one team wins both sections of the championship, they will faceoff with an All-Star team instead of competing in a season playoff.
