Coaches confident as GFA Banks Beer Cup gets underway today

The third edition of the annual Georgetown Football Association (GFA)/Banks Beer Knockout Cup is expected to commence today but up to press time yesterday a decision on the venue was still to be made.

Originally the start of the competition was scheduled for the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground, Bourda with a doubleheader but last night sources told this newspaper that there was a possibility that the matches could be shifted to the Providence National Stadium.

Once the venue is determined and the formal pageantries inclusive of the 32 team march past, concluded,

Collie Hercules
Collie Hercules

defending champions Camptown FC will face off with the relatively unknown Essequibo side in the opening game at 18:00hrs.

Marshalled by the quartet of Devon Forde, Oswald Cornette, Jahal Greaves and Malcolm Wilson, Camptown will look to begin their title defence in the perfect manner when kick off time.

However, standing in their way and hoping to fashion a huge upset for the first time participants will be the trio of Morson Bowen, Chris Gordon and Devon Romeo.

Camptown coach Bill Wilson during a pre-match comment said “Preparations are going on smoothly and quietly. We expect, like everyone else to win our first game. The first and last game in every tournament is always important. You have to start good and finish better.

“The football public knows how Camptown plays which is hard, committed and down to the bottom. Not disrespecting any opponent but everyone goes out there to win,” added Wilson.

Coach of the Essequibo side Compton Haynes during an invited comment said: “This is our first opportunity and expectations are high as we are hoping to get to the next round. We know they are the champions but we have to put out head together and play our game.

“I think our team is good enough to complete with them and we will be looking for the upset,” added Haynes.

In the second matchup at 20:00hrs, Pele FC led by the trio of Shemroy Arthur, Okeene Fraser and Keoma Gravesande will face off with Topp XX and their trident of Kevin Sullivan, Quacey Johnson and Travis Watterton in what promises to be an open encounter.

Coach of Pele FC Barry Myers said:”Preparation not to the best as it should be but we have to make do with what we have for now. We don’t know much about Topp XX but we going out there to do our best and get the victory.

“We are not underestimating nobody, we just got to go out there play a good game and get a good result,” said Myers.

Topp XX coach Collie Hercules said:”Our expectations are high and we believe we can. We did the ground work in terms of the preparation and are looking forward to winning on Saturday.”