Latest update December 23rd, 2024 3:40 AM
NAMILCO Football Festival
New champs to be crowned on
Sunday, Alpha face Western Tigers
Namilco CEO Bert Sukhai (3rd left), handing over the main trophy to Conquerors FC Secretary Lavern Fraser-Thomas. Other officials in photo from right are, Marlan Cole (Conquerors FC President), Damon Pestano (Marketing Manger Namilco), Ralph Hemsing (Engineer Namilco) and Aafeez Khan.
By Franklin Wilson
Come Sunday evening at the National Stadium, Providence, new champions of the Namilco Football Festival competition will be crowned when Guyana’s leading knock-out artistes Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United play BK International Western Tigers.
The battle of the Juices will headline the third place play off between host club Fruta Conquerors and arch rivals Sunburst Camptown.
The media was brought up to speed with plans for Sunday’s big event which will also feature an under-11 clash between Conquerors and Camptown. This specially arranged game will be for the Neil Hernandez and Delon Monderson Trophy. The game will be contested for 25 minutes.
Both players were former members of the Conquerors Club up to the time of their passing.
And according to President of Conquerors, Marlan Cole, this is a way of keeping their memories alive.
Chief Executive Officer of main sponsor Namilco Bert Sukhai on behalf of his company complimented the organisers for the general conduct of the tournament this year. He congratulated all the teams which participated with special mention of the last four.
“We must say thanks to the teams who did not make it this far but you have given your fans satisfaction that you did your best.”
The original date of the finals was the 9th of this month but due to the intervention of GPL and some minor administrative glitches it was postponed. The governing body, Guyana Football Federation was brought into the loop after a protest by one of the affected clubs and ruled that the semi-final game between Alpha and Camptown be replayed, the former prevailing.
Sukhai expressed gratitude to the Management and staff of the Stadium for making the facility available for Sunday’s matches. “Playing under the stadium’s bright but not blinding floodlights will make us all feel proud and happy that we have moved from darkness to light in such a short space of time. We are confident that while the Tucville ground may not achieve the status of the stadium, in time with sufficient funds from tournaments such as this, it will be the second best place to watch football in Guyana. And we do need a comfortable alternative facility in the event the stadium is unavailable.”
The CEO is calling on all fans and the general public to come out on Sunday with their families for what he said would be the most exciting football final this year.
“Good luck to the teams and we do hope you keep us on the edge of our seats or jumping in the air and that the sounds of the fans reverberating around and in the stadium provide you with the adrenalin to satisfy yourselves.”
All children under the age of 12 will be admitted free of charge for Sunday’s matches. Admission will be $500 and parking inside the venue will also attract a $500 fee while parking outside will be free.
The organisers have assured that adequate security in and out of the venue will be provided.
Four lucky fans will have the opportunity to win Namilco hampers but they must retain their ticket stubs for the drawings that will take place at half time of the third place match and final.
This year’s champions will receive $400,000 with $200,000 set aside for the loser. The victor of the third place clash pockets $100,000 while the loser walks away with $50,000. A number of attractive individual prizes are also up for grabs.
Club Secretary Lavern-Fraser Thomas thanked the sponsors for their continued confidence in supporting the club while also singling out all the participating clubs for their support in making the tournament another success.
Fraser-Thomas reminded that the funds garnered from this tournament goes directly into the maintenance and improvement of the club and ground.
The construction of their club house she informed is in its final stages while the lights have recently been improved.
So, all systems are in place for a memorable day of football action at the National Stadium, Providence this Sunday.
Kick off time is 16:00hrs.
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