Wilson just wants team to play to its ability

- Stag Beer Elite League

Despite being earmarked by several pundits as the event’s favourite, Head-Coach of Slingerz FC Joseph ‘Bill’ Wilson said the objective of his charges will be to play to their ability during the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Stag Beer Elite League.

The star-studded Vergenoegen giants will commence their campaign on Friday’s opening night when they faceoff against arch-rivals Alpha United.

In an invited comment with Stabroek Sports, Wilson said that the focus will be on playing to the team’s overall potential as they strive to achieve the result which is winning games.

“Obviously if you win the games, you will win the league,” he added.

Asked about the status of the team’s preparation, Wilson said he is pleased with what has been done with regards to the technical, tactical, physical and mental aspect of the team.

“It’s not been a 100 percent and we have had some hurdles like most teams but I am satisfied with the preparation,” was his assessment.

According to Wilson, the tactical emphasis of the team will be on not conceding goals while scoring as much as possible.

“We have to just go out and execute to the best of our abilities and make the adjustments that are required as we move forward.”

The eight team event, which commences at the Leonora Sports Facility Friday, will run for the duration of eight months across a two-round format.

The competing teams are Alpha United, Bakewell Slingerz, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Pele FC, Georgetown Football Club (GFC), Monedderlust FC, Buxton United and Fruta Conquerors.

Following the end of the first round which is dubbed League Genesis, the top four point finishers will compete against each other in single knockout format to decide the winner of the round. The point’s leader will faceoff with the fourth placed side while the second positioned club will tackle the third positioned unit.

The eventual winner of the round will walk away $4,000,000. The second, third and fourth place teams will receive $2,000,000, $1,000,000 and $500,000 respectively. Correspondingly, the point’s leader prior to the knockout stage in the round will pocket an additional $1,000,000.

The second round which is called the League Finale, will utilize the same playing format and financial incentives. The actual season champion will then be crowned when the respective winner of the two rounds faceoff in a knockout fixture. Winner of that match will earn an automatic CFU place.

Similarly, if the winner of both rounds is the same club, they will automatically earn a CFU berth. The second berth will then go to the club that finishes with the most accumulated points across both rounds.