The 6th edition of the Namilco/Fruta conquerors knockout tournament dubbed the – One Love football festival 2013 will be commencing on the 3rd of February at the Tucville ground.
The name of the tourney reflects the new-found peace that has enveloped the football fraternity since the impasse between the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) and Guyana Football Federation (GFF) was resolved.
This is the first tournament staged under the association’s banner with the various sub-associations represented.
With 16 competing squads possessing vastly contrasting styles, this edition promises to be much more competitive than previous years, as clubs battle for over 2 million dollars in prizes.
The tournament winner will receive $1.2 million and a trophy, while the second, third and fourth place finishers will each receive a trophy and $600,000, $400,000 and $200,000 respectively.
Favourites
Contested over eight playing dates with the finals slated to be played on the 24th of February at the world famous Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC), Bourda, the pre tournament favourites have to be the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) FC and Alpha “The Hammer” United.
Two-time winners (2007, 2012) and defending champions the GDFFC will look to rebound from their heart-breaking semifinal exit in the Banks Beer Knockout Cup as they look to retain the prestigious crown they won last year. The paragon of team effort and collectiveness, the army boys will look to be firing on all cylinders come kick-off time, as they try to avenge a humiliating defeat suffered at the hands of a resurgent North Rangers FC in the Banks Cup third place playoff.
Possessing a clutch of national players, the polarizing Alpha unit will look to continue its dominant ways on the local scene as they hunt a treble of tournament conquests. Previous winners in the 2008 and 2010 editions, Alpha’s charge will be led by their skilful leader Anthony `Awo’ Abrams and the resolute Quincy Madramootoo as they continue in their pursuit of excellence and domination nationally.
Contenders
Led by their inspirational captain Rashawn Sandiford and Banks Beer Knockout Cup MVP and Golden Boot winner Devon Forde, Camptown FC will look to add the Namilco Crown to their burgeoning trophy cabinet. Previous winners in the 2009 incarnation and current Banks Beer Knockout Cup champions, the Campbellville outfit will attempt to show that they are indeed the best team in the Georgetown locale.
Led by their band of brothers- the Hopes, Ramsays and the Stewarts, the Mocha-based Riddim Squad outfit will look to continue their meteoric rise in the local football dominion. Searching for their maiden tournament success, the heart-wrenching finals capitulation in the Banks Beer Cup will serve as a lesson well learnt as they seek to cement their place amongst the country’s elite. Overall tournament success will depend on the synchronization of the aforesaid relations as passage to the winners circle will not be a task easily accomplished, opening their campaign against the mighty Alpha United.
Dark Horses
Knockout artists and traditional powerhouse Pele FC will certainly be one of the teams to watch when the tournament kicks off. Cognizant of the transitional period that is currently enveloping the team, the famed blue and yellow will look to silence the doubters and show that they are still a force to be reckoned with in the local fraternity. Leading their charge for tournament glory will be the wily Travis `Zorro’ Grant and the crafty Kanata Manning as they take on Camptown FC in their opening fixture.
Tournament hosts and perpetual `Bridesmaids’ Fruta Conquerors FC will try to get the proverbial monkey off their back as they desperately search for that elusive silverware. Prone to moments of mental indiscretion and capitulation, the Tucville unit has done themselves no favours as they constantly underachieve in the big tournaments, albeit possessing a team crammed with championship-calibre players. Marshalled by the physical Joshua `Brownie’ Brown and the versatile Trevon `German’ Lythcott, the time is now for the boys from Tucville to prove that the constant adulation is warranted.
