Top hinterland teams will clash as the 2018 Indigenous Heritage Games get underway this weekend at the Everest Cricket Club Ground.
Some 17 football teams, 18 cricket teams, volleyball teams and individual champions in swimming and archery drawn from the ten administrative regions, will be participating. Among these are the men and women’s football teams of Port Kaituma and Paruima; Mahdia and St Cuthbert’s men and women’s cricket teams; and the Moruca and Waramuri men and women’s volleyball teams. Several will be defending their respective titles.
The Port Kaituma men’s football team from Region One will be defending their title after trouncing eight opponents to clinch the coveted title last year. They will be looking to repeat last year’s dominance against the likes of Moruca Football Club; Region Two United; Region Four United; Siparuta out of Region Six; Waramadong and Paruima out of Region Seven and Region Eight United; Piwomak out of the North Rupununi, Region Nine and Guyana Rush Sainta Football Club, and Tabatinga out of Central Rupununi, also in Region Nine.
Fierce competition is expected as teams will be looking to claim victory while defending champs Port Kaituma will be looking to make it two in a row.
In female football action, Paruima Football Club remains a dominant force as they are keenly eying the trophy after winning this category for two consecutive years.
Teams that will be looking to deny them the coveted prize are St Cuthbert’s Mission out of Region Four, Siparuta, Kamarang out of Region Seven, Region Eight United and Gladiator out of Central Rupununi, Region Nine. In cricket, Mahdia will be defending the male cricket title after putting on an impressive all-round performance last year. Can they repeat this performance at this year’s competition? The captain of the defending champs said, “we been practising for a while now and we will take the trophy home.”
Port Kaituma, Region Two United, Santa Mission out of Region Three, St Cuthbert’s Mission and Laluni out of Region Four, Moraikobai out of Region Five, Orealla out of Region Six, Campbelltown out of Region Eight and Sand Hill out of Region Ten will also vie for the top prize.
Meanwhile, rivals for the women competition are Region Two United; Santa Mission – Region Three; Swan – Region Four, Moraikobai – Region Five, Orealla – Region Six; Batavia-Region Seven; Hururu – Region Ten and defending champions St Cuthbert’s Mission.
More than $1.5M in cash and trophies will be up for grabs with winners in the men and women’s football competitions carting off $300,000 and a trophy each; runners-up $200,000 and a trophy each, while the winners of both male and female cricket competitions will cart off $150,000 and a trophy each.
Second place finishers will pocket $100,000 and a trophy.
The first day of action kicks off today at 10am at the Everest Cricket Club Ground with the march past followed by preliminary matches in football and cricket.
Swim meets will be held at the National Aquatic Centre, Liliendaal, while archery and volleyball will be staged at the Everest Cricket Club Ground tomorrow. Finals for the various disciplines will be held on Sunday.
Fees to enter on Friday and Saturday is $300 and on Sunday $500 with children under twelve years old free.
