The inaugural Guinness Greatest of the Street Linden Futsal Competition was officially launched yesterday in a simple yet significant ceremony in the board room of the LEAP Building in Linden and kicks off at 6pm tomorrow at the Wisroc Bus Park.
A total of 32 top futsal teams from various communities throughout the Mackenzie and Wismar areas will be contending for the Greatest of the Street Linden title and the top cash prize of $400,000 which is the highest prize any futsal tournament in the county has ever wielded.
Banks DIH’s Sales and Markketing Manager Carlton Joao who was at the launching, declared:”This is a very exciting time for us and we are glad to be here for the launching of this tournament. It took us some time to get here but we are happy we made it.
“Since we will be kicking off the tournament on Sunday I hope that all the players from the teams will be ready to become greater because this tournament has become a national event” Joao added.
Joao added that the event was a community-based project whereas teams will be participating from several wards and as far as the Linden Mines and Ituni areas. He also disclosed that becoming the Greatest of the Street in Linden was not the end.
“This is just another step toward the Guinness Ultimate Greatest of the Street competition which includes the top teams from Georgetown, Berbice and Linden who will be competing against each other for the Ultimate title later in the year,” Joao said.
He floated the idea that there was a possibility that Guinness will also be looking to have a Greatest of the Caribbean tournament.
“We expect a high level of discipline throughout the tournament from not just the players by the spectators also and we also expect a very high level of football to be displayed.”
Finally Joao acknowledged their co-sponsor, Velle Sports Company who provided the apparel the players will be suited with during the tournament.
Prior to Joao’s remarks, director of the organizing committee Sharma Solomon said they proud to be associated with the event and from the terrific responses it has had from Georgetown and Berbice, he expects no different in Linden.
He said “we want to ensure that they highest level of competition is displayed so we have carefully considered who will be participating because we want the best talent to be on show.”
Solomon uttered: “Thus far the response has been good. We were sorry to decline some person that showed their interest but so far the requirements are very demanding.”
The tournament has been organized so that the final will have a team from the two sides of Linden, Mackenzie and Wismar so that the communities will have a team to support.
Meanwhile, tomorrow Georgetown Greatest of the Street will meet a selected Linden All-Star futsal side in an opening exhibition match. Tournament runner up will receive $250,000, third place – $150,000 and fourth place $75,000 while there is also the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament award up for grabs.
Seven venues have been assigned for the matches over the four weeks of competitions. They include Wisroc Park, Watooka Club, Mackenzie Sports Club, Silvercity Ground, Christianburg Ground, New Silvercity Ground and Wisroc Park.
