The Victoria Community Ground will come alive tonight when Mahaica Determinators battles Riddim Squad and Ann’s Grove takes on Pouderoyen in the second annual Petra Organization/Limacol football tournament.
The opening fixture at 18:30hrs between Mahaica Determinators and Riddim Squad will set the trend for the evening’s proceedings with East Coast of Demerara defending home territory against the visitors.
It is expected to be a keenly-contested fixture with both teams yet to secure a win to date following drawn results in their respective opening games. Mahaica Determinators battled to a 2-2 result with the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
Eion Abel was the main threat for the Mahaica unit with a double in the aforementioned contest.
Tonight, much will be expected from the burly striker and the dependable Nigel Lynton when play commences.
Defensively, Captain Shameer Nazir and Devon Harris are the linchpins of an emerging backline.
On the other hand, the Mocha-based unit Riddim Squad were held to a 1-1 draw by Camptown. Scorer of their only goal thus far, Teon Jones leads an attack which also features Kevin Agard and brothers Sheldon and Sceyon Hope and Kevin Gordon.
In terms of their rearguard, siblings Orville and Dorville Stewart alongside relative Rawle Ramsay will be tasked with thwarting the advances of their opponent. Meanwhile, Ann’s Grove will enter the feature showdown at 20:30hrs against Pouderoyen as favourites.
The East Coast of Demerara unit battled admirably to a 1-1 draw with Santos in their previous fixture, forcing many pundits to elevate them to dark horse status.
Skipper Ryan Seares leads an inexperienced but talented bunch consisting of Quincy Johnson, Maxton Adams, Daniel Pellew, Phillip Williams, Ozese Halle and Delbert Wilson while the defensive duties will be marshalled by the duo of Kevon Barry and Anil Hernandez.
For the West Demerara unit, a positive result is desperately needed if they are to remain in contention for a place in the knockout round due to an embarrassing 0-2 loss to arch-rivals Den Amstel.
With a strike-force yet to come off the mark, an improved effort will be required from the quartet of Esan Nelson, Marvin Frank, Kwesi Alleyne and Kevin Frank.
A similar improvement will be expected on the defensive end from the likes of custodian Sherwin Bernard, Sebastian Edwards and Kevin Humphrey.
The event is being contested in a group round-robin format, with the top two finishers progressing to the quarterfinal round.
The winner of each group will receive $100,000 while the remaining teams will pocket $50,000, $30,000 and $20,000 apiece in order of placing.
Winner of the event will pocket $500,000 and a trophy while the second, third and fourth placed teams will receive $300,000, $200,000 and $100,000 respectively and the corresponding accolade.
To date, Banks DIH Limited under the GT Beer Brand, Trophy Stall and Star Party Rentals are the other companies that have thrown their support behind the championship.
