They came, they saw, they conquered and they were rewarded.
At a simple presentation ceremony held in the boardroom of Ansa Mc Al Limited yesterday, Cougars Football Club of Berbice, the winners of the second annual Bakewell Buxton Stars organized Mackeson Stout/Digicel Sweet 16-sponsored tournament received their spoils.
Apart from the winner’s trophy and cheque for $400,000, all the individual prizes were taken by the Ancient County team who for the second successive year made the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) settle for the runner-up spot.
Former champions Sunburst Camptown who were unseated by Cougars in their semi-final match-up had to settle for fourth this time as they lost out to national club champions Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United 5-4 on penalty kicks.
Cougars started their journey to the top with a two-nil victory over Plaisance, followed by a 3-2 and then a 5-4 victory over Bakewell Buxton Stars and Sunburst Camptown respectively.
Cougars outplayed a disorganized looking GDF in the final 2-0.
Sixty goals were scored during regulation time in the 16 matches and Cougars’ Horace Roach netted five to win the Top Goal Scorer prize of one cell phone, compliments of joint sponsors Digicel.
Roach also carted off the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, which allowed him to have another cell phone and a complete football kit, compliments of Colours Boutique.
Meanwhile, his teammates in custodian Ryan Kellawan and Kurt Bristol were named the Best Goalkeeper and Defender respectively.
GDF received $200,000 for their runner-up position while Alpha and Sunburst Camptown received $100,000 and $75,000 respectively.
In his brief remarks, Digicel’s Sherwin Campbell congratulated the victors as well as the organizers for an efficiently executed event. He also stated that Digicel was proud to be associated with the tournament for the second successive year.
“We feel that this is in keeping with our mandate towards the development of football not only in Guyana, but the Caribbean and we will continue to sponsor this tournament in the years to come.”
