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GFA / Banks Beer Knockout Cup…Teams owe it to loyal fans to maintain high brand of football
By Rawle Welch
The four teams that have progressed to the semi-finals of the lucrative GFA / Banks Beer Knockout Cup have all agreed that they owe it to the loyal fans to duplicate the high brand of football that has been exhibited so far in the competition when they square off tomorrow, at the GFC ground.
In the first game, the young brigade of Fruta Conquerors take on Beacons at 18:00hrs and that will be followed by the highly anticipated feature clash between Alpha United and Sunburst Camptown at 20:00hrs.
Fruta Conquerors loaded with a cadre of players who are destined to be the future of football here has played consistent so far, but will need to improve against a team that has shown gradual 
improvement as the competition progressed and even though they should start as underdogs, the Tucville unit should be aware that games are not won on paper, but on the field of play.
Injured star Pernell Schultz, who missed the bruising quarter-final matchup against Santos, is set to return and his presence will definitely boost their frontline.
It clearly lacked the zest and penetration that he usually brings, while players such as Marko Marcus and Eon Alleyne, both of who looked a bit below their best will no doubt be eager to erase those performances, while the experienced Gerald Gritten, who returned after a hiatus will have to step up to match the pace and skills of the present team.
As has become customary, goalkeeper Colin Edwards is expected to be difficult to penetrate, while Trevon Lythcott and company has looked sturdy and composed at the back.
Beacons, a team in the rebuilding process and one that has not been as busy as their opposition, has come on leaps and bounds and should provide a stern test for their counterparts.
Philip Rowley, Mikhail Stuart, Renford Coleridge, Daniel Favourite and Paul Giles have all been productive in the goal scoring department and Conquerors backline will have to perform to their best to keep them off the scoresheet.
Giles and Rowley possess the pace and skills to trouble many defensive line and Conquerors technical staff will have to manufacture up a strategy to deny them goal scoring opportunities.
The feature between Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United and Sunburst Camptown has all the hallmarks of being a cracker with the reigning club champions coming off a testing day at the office against a determined Riddim Squad who took them to extra time, before losing.
That examination could work in favour of ‘the Hammer’, but they must be forewarned that Sunburst Camptown is as experienced and savvy as they come and counting them out could be disastrous for any opposition.
However, Alpha is undoubtedly the strongest and most experienced line-up in the tournament, possessing past and present stars including Captain Howard Lowe, Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams, Abassi McPherson, Dwight Peters, Manasseh Primo, Andrew Murray Jnr, Quincy Madramootoo, Kelvin McKenzie and Guyana’s No.1 goalkeeper in Ronson Williams.
They are surely be a handful for any team locally to deal with so denying them a place in the final could be an arduous task for any side.
On the other hand, Camptown has been boosted by the presence of former national striker Nigel ‘Powers’ Codrington and everyone knows that on his night he could be a frightening prospect to contend with.
He will have support from Peter Parks, Devon Forde and Troy Prescod, while Sheldon Shepherd, Orlando Gilgeous and goalkeeper Maurice Prince will have a job of gigantic proportions to stop the forays of Abrams, Murray and Peters.
The class of the teams is obvious and barring soggy conditions which usually hampers the exhibition of skills and talent, fans should be vindicated for choosing to converge at football’s most popular venue to witness the treat.
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