Latest update April 17th, 2025 9:50 AM
Kuru Kuru Warriors beat Diamond 5-4; Grove Hi Tec win via walk over
EBFA Coca Cola Premier League opens at Diamond Ground in style
The inaugural Banks DIH Coca Cola Premier League organised by the East Bank Football Association (EBFA) kicked off on Sunday at the Diamond Community Centre Ground following a colourful march-past.
Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President (ag) Franklin Wilson delivered the feature remarks and officially opened the season which will see the Association’s eight (8) teams battling for supremacy in the Coca Cola Premier League.
GFF President (ag) Franklin Wilson (right) addressing players and fans at the season opening of the EBFA on Sunday at the Diamond Community Centre Ground. Also in photo are EBFA President Wayne Francois (centre) and GFF Treasurer Dwayne Lovell.
Registering the first win of the league in a thrilling game was Kuru Kuru Warriors over debutants Diamond United, 5-4. Main play was scheduled to feature Grove Hi Tec against Yarrowkabra but the latter failed to show up giving Grove full 3 points and 2 goals.
Following the march-past which featured Kuru Kuru Warriors, Grove Hi Tec, Diamond United and Timehri Panthers, Wilson in feature remarks commended the Executive of the EBFA for their resilience and commitment in ensuring that the game has restarted at the competitive level on the East Bank.
Wilson was also high in praise for sponsors Banks DIH under their Coca Cola brand for adding much needed fuel to East Bank football at a critical time.
“I would like to commend all and sundry for working together to ensure that we have competitive football back again in this area. Beverage giants Banks DIH must be complimented for their continued commitment and dedication to the development of sports and young people on the East Bank and by extension, Guyana. Banks has provided the platform for you the players and administrators to excel and ensure that this tournament is here to stay.”
The players were urged to make discipline their watch word on and off the field of play; to work together as a team in order to excel; to be committed to ensuring that the standard of the sport on the East Bank rise to a very high level which can make them competitive with the best teams in Guyana; to respect each other and the rules governing the competition and to aim for the skies.
President of the EBFA Wayne Francois and GFF Treasurer Dwayne Lovell also took the salute at the march-past along with Wilson.
Francois challenged the clubs to be disciplined in training so that on game day the best possible brand of football will be exhibited.
Opening play between debutants Diamond United and Kuru Kuru Warriors produced 9 goals in 90 minutes of competitive football. The Warriors displayed a knack for scoring early, Dexroy Adams who scored a brace netting in the first minute of the season. His second came in the 34th minute.
Daniel Angoy drew Diamond level in the 6th minute but Kuru Kuru regained the lead in the 12th through a Deon Dimhart goal. The sea saw affair as regards scoring continued when Diamond again drew level, Rensford Goodridge tucking in the first of his brace in the 21st minute. The Kuru Kuru restored the advantage with Adams’ second in the 34th and increased same when Courtney Grant found the back of the nets in the 42nd minute. Goodridge sneaked reduced the lead for Diamond in the 46th minute but the 2-goal cushion was restored for Kuru Kuru in the 59th compliments of a Cordell Johnson goal.
Some of the teams which participated in the season opening march-pass of the EBFA at the Diamond Community Centre Ground on Sunday afternoon.
Diamond netted the final goal of the crowd pleasing match-up in the 77th minute through Marvin Blair. In the ensuing minutes, the home team tried for all their worth to get the equalizer but that evaded their grasp. They created some opportunities but shot wide of the target; despite the result it was a good start to for the debutants whose coach should be proud of his charges.
League action is expected to continue on Friday evening with one game at the Banks DIH Thirst Park Ground following the final of the Banks DIH Inter Department football competition.
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