For many proponents of the sport, the concluded year can be defined as dramatic and progressive both on and off the field of play, with major highlights occurring internationally with the Golden Jaguars and locally within the Community and Streetball realms. Below features a timeline of the major highlights of the year.
January
Amid much fanfare and expectation, the 10th season of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Championship official commenced with the launching of the West Demerara/East Bank Demerara tournament at the Banks DIH Limited conference room.
Family, Strike Team, Dream-Team and Ballers Empire secured hard-fought wins, when the 2nd Annual Mocha Village Cup Street-ball Championship commenced at the Mocha Arcadia Community Centre.
Georgetown Football Club [GFC] was crowned the Georgetown Football Association [FA] ‘Revival Cup’ Champion, upsetting the Guyana Police Force [GPF] in the finale. Staged at the GFC ground, Bourda, it was the first senior championship secured by the hosts in more than 40 years.
The Guyana Football Federation [GFF] commenced a two-day Marketing Workshop at the Guyana Olympic Association [GOA] headquarters, Liliendaal. The aim of the workshop, which was attended by members from the Elite League clubs, Regional Member Associations and Association Members, was to educate the attendees on several aspects of marketing, sports marketing, branding and brand management towards sustainable corporate partnerships.
Head of Referees, Stanley Lancaster was dismissed with immediate effect while Referees Assessor, Roy McArthur, was provisionally suspended. This was revealed by President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Wayne Forde in a sudden meeting at the federation’s office, Section K Campbellville.
With the opening night confirmed for January 2nd at the National Gymnasium, the 2nd edition of the Magnum Mash Futsal Championship was officially launched at the Windjammer Hotel, Kitty.
Golden Jaguars International goalkeeper Akel Clarke and former Western Tigers centre-half Raphael Edwards, secured transfers to Surinamese club S. V. Walking Boys during the ongoing January transfer window.
The Frank Watson Memorial National U-15 Intra-Association Football Playoff was officially launched at the Guyana Football Federation [GFF] Boardroom, Section-K Campbellville while the 7th edition of the Milo Secondary School Football Championship, was launched at the Beepat Headquarters, Dennis Street.
History was created on the 8th when the Government of Guyana signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the GFF for the 25-year lease of 7.3 acres of land to construct a football facility at Durban Park, Georgetown. The proposed facility, which will be known as the “GFF Durban Park Football Complex,” is expected to accommodate an international quality full size pitch, two mini pitches and a new headquarters for the GFF.
February
Brothers United ended the three-year reign of Showstoppers in the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ West Demerara/East Bank Demerara Championship, defeating the home side 1-0 on penalty kicks on the 15th in the finale at the Pouderoyen Tarmac.
FC Eagles of West Demerara was crowned the inaugural Frank Watson Memorial U15 national champions following convincing wins at the National Training Centre, Leonora.
A Most Valuable Player [MVP] performance from Orville Stewart, propelled One-n-Move to the 2nd Annual Mocha Village Cup Street-ball championships, downing Family 2-0 on the 15th at the Mocha Arcadia Community Centre.
The Guyana Football Federation [GFF], successfully concluded a two-day FIFA facilitated medicine workshop for physiotherapists and doctors attached to the respective Member Associations.
The High Court of Guyana on the 18th, dismissed the civil action brought against the GFF by Alpha United and Slingerz FC representatives Odinga Lumumba and Collin Aaron, who were seeking damages for an alleged breach of contract.
The Guyana Football Federation [GFF] in partnership with the National Milling Company [NAMILCO], launched the 2nd season of the Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 Intra-Association tournament at the latter’s Agricola Head-Office.
March
A performance aptly fitting the moniker of Most Valuable Player [MVP] from custodian Devon Charles secured Sparta Boss a 2-1 penalty shoot-out victory over Back Circle in the National Sports Commission/Magnum Mash Cup Futsal Championship final.
Division-A was crowned the Guyana Police Force [GPF] Inter-Division/Branch 5-a-side Football Championship, defeating Band-Room 3-0 at the Eve Leary ground.
Despite the absence of Kevin Layne and Delroy Fraser, defending champions Trafalgar successfully retained their Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Berbice title, easing past New Amsterdam [NA] Kings 2-0 in the grand finale.
The Golden Jaguars preparation for their CONCACAF Nations League Belize fixture suffered an untimely setback when they lost to traditional foe Suriname 3-1 in an international at the Pierkhan Stadium, Nickerie, Suriname.
The sounding of the Aruban official’s final whistle confirmed the historic moment, as Guyana defeated Belize 2-1 in their final CONCACAF Nations League Qualifier to seal their maiden appearance in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The Golden Jaguars were drawn in group-C of League-B in the CONCACAF Nations League, following the official draw at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Guyana, who are ranked [21st], and created history by qualifying for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, will feature alongside traditional foes Jamaica [6th] and Antigua & Barbuda [22nd], with Aruba [31st] completing the group.
Guyana Football Federation [GFF] President Wayne Forde and Executive Committee Member Ryan Farias, participated in the 34th CONCACAF Ordinary Congress, staged at the Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
The Golden Jaguars historic qualification for CONCACAF Gold Cup, was featured on a special edition of the FIFA Football television show on April 15th.
April
Guyana National Champions Fruta Conquerors were scheduled to depart local shores on the 2nd for Curacao to compete as the country’s lone representative in the 2019 CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield Championship.
CONCACAF Project Director Howard McIntosh stated that infrastructure development is fundamental to the advancement of football locally, adding that the partnership between the GFF and the Government of Guyana is also essential for the discipline’s growth. These comments were uttered by the Jamaica national, during a visit to the Homestretch Avenue location as a part of his two-day tour of Guyana.
The Victoria Kings and Guyana Defence Force [GDF] clash in the GFF Elite League at the Camp Ayanganna ground was abandoned, after the former’s dressing room was ransacked and money stolen.
The Guyana Football Federation [GFF], launched an investigation to ascertain the basis behind dismissed Head of Referees Department Stanley Lancaster, serving as a match official for the inaugural Linden Mayors Cup. Lancaster, who was dismissed by the federation on January 8th 2019, functioned as a match official for two matches in the tournament at the Mackenzie Sports Club [MSC] ground, Linden.
The Golden Jaguars were drawn in Group-D of the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup following the official draw in Los Angeles. Guyana will faceoff with heavyweights the United States of America, Panama and Trinidad and Tobago.
Fruta Conquerors ended their CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield on a disappointing note, losing 0-4 to Santiago de Cuba at the Dr. Antonio Maduro Stadium, Curacao. The Tucville based unit ended the tournament with a record of two losses and a draw.
Guyana were drawn in Group-A of the Caribbean Playoff Leg of the CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship following the official draw. The Guyanese were grouped with heavyweight Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis and Dominica in the event, to be held from July 17th-21st.
A historic night brought the curtain down on the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ East Coast Demerara Championship, as Melanie-B defeated Paradise-A 2-1 in a nerve-wracking penalty shoot-out to lift the coveted title for the second time on the 21st. The crowning of the new champion was witnessed by the largest crowd ever to descend on the Haslington Market Tarmac, as Melanie-B became the first team to win the zonal tournament twice, following their 2017 exploits.
Winners Connection clinched the inaugural Linden Town Week Mayors Cup Football Championship, upsetting highly touted Eagles FC 4-2 via penalty kicks on the 23rd at the Mackenzie Sports Club [MSC] ground, Linden.
The 4th edition of the Corona Beer Futsal Championship was officially launched on the 25th at the Top Brandz Distributors Headquarters, Broad Street, Charlestown. The eight day event coordinated by the Petra Organization, featured Georgetown Football Association [GFA] clubs facing off with community teams from May 4th at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.
The Guyana National U17 Team departed local shores on the 29th to make their debut in the CONCACAF U17 Football Championship at the IMG Facility, Bradenton, Florida.
Bent Street was crowned the inaugural Stag Beer Easter Futsal Championship, edging Gold is Money by a 6-5 scoreline on the 30th at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.
