Guianas’ Club Championship: ASC Le Geldar de Kourou crowned champs, Alpha beat US Matoury

Jun 10, 2008 Sports

By Franklin Wilson in French Guiana
compliments of Digicel

French Guiana’s ASC Le Geldar de Kourou were crowned champions of the inaugural Coupe des Guyanes (Guiana’s Club Championship) after needling top Suriname side SV Intermoengotapoe in the final game of the competition which ended on Sunday evening at the Stadium of Baduel in Cayenne.
While the Top French side remained the only unbeaten team in the 3-day championship, Guyana’s Alpha United mustered the courage and zest to end on a winning note having suffered back to back defeats.
They edged out French Guiana’s number two team US Matoury 2-1 in a much improved performance. Coach Gavin Browne made some adjustments to the starting line up and they produced the required results.
Number one goalkeeper Ronson Williams made way for Adrian Giddings who proved that he should have been given the chance earlier by putting in a sterling performance with good work between the uprights.
Starting up front were Elton Brown in tandem with Peter Parks who started for the first time in the competition.

Wendell St. Hill replaced Andrew Murray in right side midfield while defender Travis Martin came in for Vellon Thorne. Kelvin McKenzie had to sit out the game due to a red card in the previous match.
This starting line up looked much more purposeful and businesslike in their approach something that was lacking in the previous games.
Defensively, the Guyanese were much more compact in defence and with marked improvement in the midfield US Matoury found it difficult in going forward. There was also a step up in holding ball possession for longer periods by the lads from the Land of Many Waters.
With the small band of female supporters sounding like a multitude as they urged on the Guyanese, they continued to control the game with keeper Gittens exercising good judgment whenever he was called into action. He also communicated well with his defenders.
A lapse in concentrating after 32 minutes of good exchanges, and forward Drane Luic capitalized straight away by slamming the ball past the goalkeeper for a 1-0 advantage for Matoury.
They enjoyed that lead until the 55th minute when Alpha won a corner which was taken quickly, Fraser colleting the short pass and sending into the area where Peter Parks duly rocked the nets. The goal brought back life to the Guyanese supporters.
By this time both teams were showing signs of tiring but Alpha continued to dominate and created numerous chances which were all wasted, Browne missing 3 of them.

Murray replaced Parks and 2 minutes into his introduction he too missed an excellent chance to put his team ahead.
But with 5 minutes to go, the hard working Quincy Madramootoo switched places with Parks in the first half finally was able to find the back of the nets.
Gordon Henry was brought down just before the half way line in Guyana’s half. The ensuing free kick was taken very quickly and caught the US Matoury team off guard. Nagamootoo tipped the ball over the advancing goalkeeper with all the opposing players standing in awe as Suriname Referee Baduel Jeny signaled to the centre for the restart.
The home team and supporters were still wandering what happened but it was now a 2-1 game in favour of Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United.
Soon after the whistle sounded and Alpha collected a well earned 3 points.
The feature match up which was played in rain for more than 30 minutes saw the home team dominating their Surinamese counterparts. Both teams possess tall and strong players but the inaugural champions made better use of their players and the conditions.

They enjoyed good home support.
The winning strike came in the 70th minute to the delight of the home team and fans, a deserved win ultimately for them as they ended as the only unbeaten team with a perfect 9 points.
Suriname’s SV Intermongtapoe took the 2nd place trophy with US Matoury 3rd and Alpha 4th.
All the teams received trophies which were handed over at a presentation ceremony held at the Regional Administration Secretariat of Cayenne.
Host President Jean-Claude Labrador once again expressed his gratitude to the participating clubs for making the tournament a successful one. He also expressed gratitude to the various sponsors including the Government and Mayor of Cayenne.
Suriname will host next year’s championship while Guyana will host in 2010.
The visiting teams and officials left French Guiana yesterday morning for their respective countries.