-Stabroek Ballers secure third place
In a thrilling but wet conclusion to the inaugural King of Soft Shoes football tournament, Sparta Boss edged out Bent Street with a 2-1 victory on Friday night at the St. Pius Ground in La Penitence.
Despite the challenging weather conditions, the final match produced the goods with Sparta Boss doing just enough to defeat longtime rivals Bent Street.
Both teams exhibited strategic play and tenacity but it was Sparta Boss that managed to secure the decisive goal after proceedings were level at 1-1. With the win, Sparta clinched the championship title and the top prize of $500,000 while Bent Street, as the runners-up, earned $300,000.
Earlier in the evening, the third-place playoff saw Stabroek Ballers narrowly defeat Back Circle with a 4-3 scoreline, earning them a $100,000 prize in the high scoring encounter. Back Circle received $50,000 for their fourth-place finish.
The tournament, which commenced on February 4, featured 16 traditional futsal teams competing in a straight knockout ‘soft shoe’ format for a grand prize of $500,000. Organized by national footballers Jermin Junor and Ryan Hackett, the event was made possible by recent enhancements to the St. Pius Ground, including new lighting and field upgrades facilitated by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.
Throughout the competition, eventual champions Sparta Boss demonstrated their dominance, notably with a commanding 7-0 quarterfinal victory over Z-Tekk, where former national striker Gregory Richardson delivered a hat-trick. Bent Street also showcased resilience, securing their spot in the final after a 2-0 semifinal win against Back Circle A, highlighted by goals from Bevney Marks and Daniel Wilson.
