Eight teams from the East Coast of Demerara will take it to each other in the third edition of the Freedom Cup hosted by the East Coast Football Association.
The teams will bang heads for over half a million dollars in prize money donated by Bakewell, who have thrown their full support behind the competition.
Sales supervisor of the company Jacob Nanan said Bakewell felt it a duty to give back to the East Coast community, particularly Buxton where all the games will be played, as the majority of the company’s work force are from that village.
The tournament kicks off today at 14:00 hours with Black Stallion playing Ann’s Grove while Mahaica comes against Plaisance in the other game slated for today. Beterverwagting, Buxton, Golden Stars and Victoria Kings are the other teams taking part in the competition. The seven-week round-robin knock out tournament has a first prize of 100 thousand dollars with 75 thousand for the runner up team, 50,000 for the third placed team and 25,000 fourth. Games will be played on Saturdays and Sundays; and a new champion will be determined since the 2005 champion Melanie Damishana, will not be defending the title since they were relegated.
The organizers have also said that security measures are in place for the competition.
