The Golden Grove Community Centre ground will provide the perfect setting for the conclusion of the inaugural 592 Inter-Village Football Festival when Friendship lock horns with home side Golden Grove in a titanic encounter from 22:00hrs tonight.
“We are on the eve of the championship match, the proverbial calm before the storm. The buzz and anticipation is in the air throughout the corridor of the East Coast,” said organizer Eon Havercome.
“Golden Grove versus Friendship is a mouthwatering clash and the ideal way to sign off on the tournament which has become a tremendous success and has set the foundation to become a main staple of the East Coast Demerara region in the foreseeable future,” he added.
Havercome said he expects a mammoth crowd tonight.
“Barring one outcome, the remaining elimination matches were decided by penalty kicks which indicates the competitive nature of the tournament. I expect a mammoth crowd from the communities of Buxton and Friendship to descend on the venue to support the visitors while the home team will not be short on support as they aim to lift the title on their turf. Once again I would like to commend the players and fans for their unwavering support in making the tournament a success.”
Due to the home support, Golden Grove will enter the match as the favourite. They will also be in confident and bullish mood following 3-1 semi-final victory over the highly touted Beterverwagting [BV] outfit. Former national player Dwain Jacobs has been a standout performer for the hosts with exciting performances and the cast of Quason McAulay, Seretse Huntley and Phillip Williams are also poised to continue their rampant form.
On the other hand, Friendship will be buoyed by their victory over the dangerous Paradise unit, a feat that must not be overlooked given their shaky start to the tournament. Once again the goal of securing a win in hostile territory will depend on talisman Clive Andries in partnership with Dillon Wright and custodian Seon Thomas between the uprights.
In the third place playoff, the Tyreek Cummings and Teshawn Gordon-led Paradise will lock horns with BV and their talented quartet of Omari Glasgow, Jemar Harrigon, Reon Hopkinson and Akin Curry from 20:00hrs.
The eventual champion of the event will pocket $500,000 and the championship trophy. On the other hand, the second, third and fourth place finisher will receive $200,000, $150,000 and $100,000 respectively and the corresponding trophy.
Similarly, individual prizes will also be awarded for the Most Valuable Player [MVP] of the tournament, the MVP of the finale, the Best Goalkeeper of the tournament and the Best Goalkeeper of the final. Some of the major sponsors of the tournament include Bakewell Guyana Incorporated, ExxonMobil, the NSC, Flavours Boss and the Colin Talbot Construction Services.
