In a simple ceremony yesterday in the boardroom at the Banks DIH Building, Thirst Park, all the top performers at the recently-concluded Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport/Georgetown Football Association (GFA) Guinness Futsal competition received their prizes.

In this Orlando Charles photo, representatives from the top four teams of the Guinness Futsal Competition pose with their prizes. Standing second and fifth from left are Director of Sport, Neil Kumar and Banks DIH’s Lee Baptiste while Omali Nassy stands third from right. At extreme right is Banks DIH Communications Manager Troy Peters and at left GFA’s Marlan Cole.

The presentation ceremony was attended by  Director of Sport, Neil Kumar, Banks DIH’s Lee Baptiste and representatives from the super four teams in the competition – Uprising, Flamingo, Fruta Conquerors and Pele football clubs.

Uprising’s Omali Nassy received his Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament award.

Both Baptiste and Kumar shared the same view that the tournament was well organized and conducted.

They noted too that there was full attendance by spectators who displayed relatively good discipline while the competition among the teams was quite intense.

Baptiste added  that the tournament had impressed him and after congratulating the teams on their success he guaranteed the annual sponsorship of the event.

And Kumar told the players that the “tournament as such allows teams of lesser magnitude to showcase their skills and make a mark from this stage.

“The tournament improves the skill of players undoubtedly and shows that our players can adapt and also the discipline displayed can make a positive impact on getting sponsors for future tournaments,” Kumar added.

The inaugural champions, Uprising, was presented with a $300,000 cheque for winning the tourney and they also received the Guinness Futsal Trophy while runners-up Flamingo, received $150,000 and the second place trophy.

Third and fourth place finishers, Fruta Conquerors and Pele  settled for $75,000 and $50,000 respectively along with the relevant trophies.