Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Linden Zone
– Bullets seal final’s berth before cancellation
Persistent rainfall forced the cancellation of the second semifinal, third place playoff, and final in the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Linden edition on Monday evening at the Retrieve Tarmac, as Silver Bullets earned a berth to the final which is now set for Saturday prior to the abandonment.
Tournament officials, following discussions with the referees and Guinness Brand Executive Lee Baptiste, decided to reschedule the remaining matches for Saturday at the same venue, as the playing surface was deemed unsafe for the players due to a consistent downpour which lasted in excess of 90 minutes.
According to an official release from the coordinating crew, “Following discussions with the relevant parties, including the teams, it was deemed that the venue was unfit to contest the remaining matches. The safety of the players is the most important element, along with providing a quality experience for the patrons. The integrity and overall quality of the tournament must be maintained, so the decision was taken to reschedule the matches for Saturday, which will culminate the tournament. While we understand the frustration of the players and the spectators, safety for everyone involved in the championship, especially the players and the fans, is tantamount.”
Prior to the abandonment, former two time champion Silver Bullets riddled the Spaniards by a 3-0 score in the first semifinal which was affected by the downpour primarily during the second half.
Damion Williams broke the deadlock in the fourth minute, before Colwyn Drakes sealed the victory via a ‘Guinness Goal’ [a goal scored in the final three minutes of normal time counts as two] conversion in the 23rd minute.
Meanwhile, Hardball Management and Turf President will contest the second semifinal on Saturday. The loser of the aforesaid fixture will oppose Spaniards in the third place playoff.
The winner of the competition will receive $500,000 and the championship trophy. They will also earn an automatic berth to the national championship which is penciled for August in Georgetown.
Meanwhile, the second, third, and fourth-place finishers will pocket $400,000, $300,000, and $250,000, respectively, and the corresponding accolade.
