Thomas United launches Mashramani Challenge Cup

As part of its celebration of its 52nd anniversary as a club, Thomas United Football Club (FC) has launched a month-long “Mashramani Challenge Cup” scheduled to kick off from February 5 – March 8.

At a simple ceremony Thursday afternoon at the Sidewalk Café on Middle Street, club president Oliver Hinckson said that the club was the second oldest football club in the country behind Georgetown Football Club (GFC).

Hinckson added that the tournament was being run through Linden Club Winners’ Connection and was aimed at developing the sport among youths.

Cathy Hughes (second from right) shakes hands with Thomas United President Oliver Hinckson (second from left) after handing over the tournament trophy while Gerald Whittington (left), Ronald Lee-Bing (centre) and Winners’ Connection Secretary/Treasurer Haslyn Crawford look on. (Aubrey Crawford photo)

Handing over the trophy was Alliance for Change (AFC) Member of Parliament, Cathy Hughes, who reiterated the reason for staging the tournament and noted that with her late party colleague Sheila Holder’s connection to Thomas United and the ambition to create a strong nexus between sport and youth, she was very honoured to be a part of the venture.

Sixteen teams from all over the country are expected to compete in the invitational knockout tournament and matches will be played at the Mackenzie Sports Club, GFC, Beterverwagting and Uitvlugt grounds respectively.
The winning club will walk away with $500,000 while the runners-up will collect $300,000.