Anticipation and excitement are boiling over as fans of the popular street style football known as ‘streetball’ prepare for the long-awaited return of the ‘Guinness Greatest of the Streets’ competition on Friday at the National Park.
The Georgetown zone of the competition will be played over eight days and with all systems in place, the thirty-two teams are anxious to burst into high-octane action.
After a four-year absence due to the Covid-19 pandemic and related issues, the organisers will be putting up over $1.5 million in prize monies and trophies on offer for the top four finishers, while the winner of the Plate final and Skills Challenge competitions will also be rewarded financially.
Ahead of the kick-off on Friday, Guinness Brand Executive Lee Baptiste is expecting keen rivalry among the teams. Baptiste also pointed out that despite four years of the tournament’s absence, the feedback among teams and fans points to an expected exciting experience, one that had become a customary feature of the tournament over the years.
“What we have been hearing within the communities that the teams come from is that they are excited and eager to be part of the event, while similar sentiments have also been expressed by residents of those communities,” Baptiste said.
The winning team will take home $800,000 and the champion’s trophy, while the second, third and fourth-place finishers will receive $400,000, $200,000 and $100,000 respectively.
Meanwhile, the winner of the Plate final will cart off $100,000.
The first three nights of the competition will be played on a knockout basis with the winners advancing to the round of 16 phase, before the quarterfinals which are set for March 30.
Following are the fixtures for the first three nights:
Friday March 15: Alexander Village vs Rising Stars; Sophia vs. Bent Street Young Gunners; Festival City vs. Laing Avenue Ballers; North East La Penitence vs. Ballers FC and Gold is Money vs; Renegade All Stars.
Saturday March 16: Broad Street vs. Make It Happen; California Square vs. Sophia B; North Ruimveldt vs. Street Ballers; Albouystown Airport Ballers and Back Circle vs. Stabroek Ballers B.
Sunday March 17: Up Top Boss vs. Lodge All Stars; Tiger Bay vs. Middle Road Ballers; Bent Street vs. Tucville Rangers; Stabroek Ballers vs. Bad A Yard; Leopold Street vs. Unstoppable; Sparta Boss vs. Back Road Ballers
