Banks DIH launched the third ‘Greatest of the Streets’ football championships yesterday in the company’s conference room and already the defending champions captain Jimmy Gravesande has indicated that Broad Street will retain the title. Gravesande said that his team has been training for some time now and he believes that his unit is strong. He acknowledged that other teams are strong and they will be “coming hard at us” and so it is important that they do not take any team lightly.
Broad Street will play their opening match against D’Urban Street tomorrow, the opening day of the competition, at the Albouystown basketball court from 20:00 hours.
Broad Street defeated Albouystown 3-1 last year in the final at the National Park tarmac. For the competition this year 32 teams will be competing in eight groups of four on a round robin knockout basis. Two teams from each group will advance to the round of 16 and the winner of each group will receive $30,000 while the second, third and fourth place finishers will collect $25,000, $20,000 and $15,000 respectively.
Matches will also be played at East Ruimveldt, National Cultural Centre (NCC) and the Burnham Court tarmacs and the final will be contested at the National Park tarmac.
When the competition concludes on December 11 the winning team will carry home $500,000, second place, $300,000, third $150,000 and fourth position, $50,000.
Speaking at the launch, Organiser and former president of the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) Troy Mendonca thanked Banks DIH for their continued support for one of the largest grassroots tournaments.
