Leslie Holigan trophy at stake for Inaugural Alpha Football Festival champs

Sep 13, 2008 Sports

Sunburst Camptown face Alpha tomorrow night

The main players at yesterday press conference where the trophies were on display, the ‘Leslie Holigan’ main trophy is center of table. From left: Shona Hinds, Troy Mendonca, Orlando Gilgeous (Camptown captain), Nazeem Hussein, Odinga Lumumba, Shawn Bishop (Alpha captain), Wayne Dover and Stan Gouveia.

By Franklin Wilson
Football history will again be created come tomorrow evening at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence when the first senior local final is contested between arch rivals Sunburst Camptown and Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United.

It will be the championship match of the inaugural Alpha Football Festival which kicked off on August 1 at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground.

Sixteen teams started out in pursuit of the top prize of one million dollars (75% cash & 25% kind) but its now down to the best two teams. The loser will walk away with $500,000.

At stake in the third and fourth place game which brings together Santos and Pele is $250,000 and $125,000.

Alpha United’s Anthony Abrams is the leading contender for the highest goal scorer award with a total of 5 goals to date with prizes also at stake for the best goalkeeper and most valuable player of the tournament.

Yesterday at the Water Chris Hotel, Alpha President Odinga Lumumba hosted a press conference to share details on what fans can expect at tomorrow’s final.

Representatives of some of the sponsors, Polar Ice and The National AIDS Programme Secretariat and the opposing coaches were also present.

Lumumba said that the tournament so far has been a superb one and expressed his gratitude to the Guyana Football Federation, Georgetown Football Association and the sponsors for chipping in to make this first tournament a success.

Polar Ice Public Relations Officer Stan Gouveia said they are very pleased to be associated with the competition and they see sports as a unifying force in Guyana.

“And we would want to contribute to something of this magnitude as it continues to unify all Guyanese. We are committed to be involved in activities of this nature and I would certainly hope that the initial step taken by Mr. Lumumba to approach will be emulated by other sports organisations since we have a particular and vested interest in making sure that sports reaches to the top.”

National AIDS Programme Secretariat representative Nazeem Hussein, while complimenting the organisers of the tournament, said they will be conducting a special educational programme with the two teams in the final.

He said this will be just the start of many such programmes to be down with footballers on education pertaining to HIV and AIDS.

Representative from the Secretariat will also be at tomorrow’s activity distributing information of the deadly disease as well as condoms.

Marketing Manager of Polar Beer and Beverages Shona Hinds assures that patrons in the Mound Stand tomorrow will be in for a big treat since they will be lost of giveaways and music to keep their company during the night.

“So we would like to encourage persons to make sure they come into the party mound and enjoy what we have to offer, Polar style.”

While no Digicel representative was present, Lumumba took the opportunity to express his gratitude to them for being a great support as a corporate partner.

Coach of Sunburst Camptown Troy Mendonca sharing his views on tomorrow’s clash stated that no matter which team wins tomorrow’s contest, football will be the winner.

“It gives us, local players, clubs an opportunity to play at the largest and best venue in the country and I can see a great future for the game here.

I know there has been talk about a Pro League but in order for us to have sponsors, supporters and everyone come on board, I think Sunday (tomorrow) would be the deciding factor as we aim to promote football.”

Camptown he said has been working very hard over the past months and this would be their third final for 2008 and is confident they will continue to do well, including tomorrow’s championship game.

His opposite number Wayne ‘Wiggy’ Dover who is also Guyana’s senior head coach, a man of few words said it’s a pleasure being the representative of the number one club in Guyana and they are focusing on football as a product to help bring back the fans to the sport.

“So come Sunday (tomorrow) I want to say that we would be in a position to entertain and do so in a fantastic way.”

Tickets will go on sale from 16:00hrs tomorrow at a cost of $800. The first match, third place clash between Pele and Santos will get cracking at 18:00hrs.

Those corporate entities lending support fro the tournament include, Digicel, Polar Ice, Courtney Benn Construction Company, HJ Television, National Aids Secretariat, Demerara Distillers Limited, Cummings Electrical, Guyana Times and Starr Computers.

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