Georgetown Football Association (GFA) President Vernon Burnette said the Banks Beer Cup is the most prestigious tournament on their calendar of events and as such, the entity will be staging the fourth edition of the championships for only affiliated clubs.
Speaking exclusive to Stabroek Sports, he said:”The Georgetown Football Association will be hosting the fourth edition of the Banks Beer Cup. It has become the main feature on the calendar of events of the GFA and it is our most prestigious tournament. The tournament is slated to commence on the 30th of November and conclude on January 1st of 2015.”
Asked how did the body come to the decision of hosting its own yearend event, he said:”It is not a new decision, its a decision we took as an executive awhile now. However, there are always negotiations going on with our sponsors and based on what is gong on in football, we had to decide whether to stage a countywide tournament or within the association.
“Last year we went 32 teams but we have decided it best for us to host our own tournament,” he added.
Quizzed why didn’t the GFA partner with the Kashif and Shanghai Organization in hosting a national event, the GFA Boss said:”We would have taken this matter to the GFA general council. It was put forward, suggested and it was overwhelming decided that we should go back to the Banks Beer Cup by ourselves”.
Questioned if they will need permission from the GFF Normalization Committee to host the tournament, he said:”We are hosting it domestically, we are not going outside our jurisdiction and involving clubs from outside the association. It is a Georgetown tournament played in Georgetown this year.
“Next year there might be a committee to relook at it but this year we thought it best to host it for only members of the association,” he said.
Asked if his association will allow Georgetown clubs to compete in the Kashif and Shanghai tourney if it is given permission by the GFF Normalization Committee, he said:”If the Kashif and Shanghai Organization receives permission to host their tournament, it is the decision of the GFA general council if they should play.
“I don’t think the GFA executives will want to take on that responsibility and make that decision for the clubs. What we have provided for them is the opportunity to play in our tournament they have enjoyed for the past three years and what we want to do is make the tournament very attractive and give everyone the chance to come out on top”.
“I cannot say at this point in time if the Kashif and Shanghai Organization is given permission that the teams will be participating or will not be participating. What I can tell you is that it was put forward to the general council because they had written to the clubs and association. We had two options and the general council took this route which is to have their own Banks Beer Cup,” he added.
