Guinness ‘Greatest of de Streets’ Futsal Competition ... Defending champions Back Circle start on positive note

Guinness ‘Greatest of de Streets’ Futsal Competition … Defending champions Back Circle start on positive note

Nov 12, 2012 Sports

Part of the action on opening night of the Guinness ‘Greatest of de Streets Futsal Competition.

The Georgetown leg of the Guinness ‘Greatest of de Streets’ Futsal Competition got started on Saturday at the Albouystown Tarmac with Sport Minister Dr. Frank Anthony declaring the championship open with the ceremonial kick off of the ball, before a large crowd of spectators.
The competition started with defending champions Back Circle showing clear intentions that they are the team to beat. Despite stiff competition from Cross Road, Back Circle were able to score goals off the boots of Andy Duke, Devon Harris and Dellon Frazer in the 4th, 9th and 18th minutes respectively. Cross Road’s lone response was scored by Desmond Cottam in the 6th minute.
In the second match of the night between Queen Street Tiger Bay and Berlin, Queen Street brought down the Berlin wall with each of the five goals scored. Unable to maintain a strong defence or penetrate the defence of Queen Street frustration got the better of the boys from Berlin which saw them making a number of mistakes that worked to the benefit of Queen Street.
Deon Alfred scored four of the five goals in the 5th, 8th, 17th and 19th minutes, while Godfrey Downel scored in the 10th minute.
Globe Yard defeated Laing Avenue by a 2-1 margin in the third match. Both teams fought equally hard for the win, but it was the former with goals from Lionel Grimes and Dwayne Anthony in the 15th and 19th minutes that decided the outcome. Laing Avenue’s lone goal was scored by Denzil Kistoo in the 25th minute.
Game four saw Leopold Street secure a 3-2 victory over Island All Star 2. Omallo Williams and Okenny Fraser scored for Leopold Street in the 2nd, 10th and 15th minutes respectively. Fraser scored the final two goals. Devon Hayman and Jermain Herson scored for Island All Star in the 5th and 14th minutes respectively.
Game five saw thefirst draw of the night between Albouystown ‘B’ and Hope Street of Tiger Bay 1. That match ended in a one all draw. Barunch Anthony in the 17th minute scored for Albouystown ‘B’, while Solomon Austin scored in the 9th minute for Hope Street, Tiger Bay.
West Front Road defeated Bent Street 2-0 in the sixth match of the night. Michael Pedro in the 3rd minute and Randolph Wagner in the 17th minute were the scorers for West Front Road.
Broad Street A- Charlestown lost to East Front Road. East Front Road scored 2 goals as it was successful in keeping Broad Street goalless. Vashile Cantzlar and Dillon Killy scored for East Front Road in the 14th and 15th minutes respectively.
The final match of the night between Princes’ Street and Albouystown A ended in a one all draw. The scorers were Leon Grumble in the 1st minute for Princes’ Street and Devon Dooker in the 10th minute for Albouystown.
Earlier, Minister Anthony in his address said that Banks DIH has been very supportive of sports with a number of initiatives with the Guinness in the Street being one of those initiatives.
“So that’s why we in the ministry are very pleased to support the various initiatives that Banks would do in terms of sports. We want to see community sport develop and we know that street football is one of those community sports that can bring our communities out to enjoy a good game”.
Dr. Anthony said while it is a competition it is good for the community “We have seen that in just a few short years ago this tournament was started here in Guyana and it was a unique tournament because at the time Guinness did not think that such a tournament would have evolved around the Caribbean and being something that was home grown has now taken hold around the Caribbean and just this year you would have seen Caribbean coming to Guyana to play in the first every Caribbean Street football tournament”. That Minister Anthony said is something that Guyanese should be proud of.
Minister Anthony told the gathering that as they compete he would he looking on for the best team to represent Guyana at the Caribbean Championship again given the number of teams in the different parts of the country that are now a part of the championship.
Guinness Brand Manager, Lee Baptiste the company has heeded the call for a national championship.
“As we know Guyana were runners up to St. Vincent. This year through your encouragement we will be adding two more legs to this tournament, we will be in Bartica and Berbice and then we will be having our national championship to choose the team to represent us at the Caribbean Championship”.
Baptise said it is important that teams maintain the highest level of discipline as they compete in the championship.
“I hope that as you play hard you will respect the referee’s decision which is always final”.
The competition continues tonight at the Cultural Centre Tarmac with another eight matches: Durban Street playing Sophia B, West Back Road tackles South Ruimveldt, Festival City engages California Square, Stevedore Housing Scheme go up against Norton Street West, East La Penitence faces Kingstown, Alexander Village plays Norton Street East, Broad Street B collides with Sophia A followed by Lodge Housing Scheme and North-La Penitence.
Kickoff is 18:00 hrs.