STAG Elite League FINALE …History beckons as Slingerz face old rivals Alpha for the SEL FINALE championship

Jun 17, 2016 Sports

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By Franklin Wilson
They have been involved in fierce battles over the past two years with Slingerz holding a slight psychological edge over Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United having won 4 of the 9 encounters with Alpha taking 3 whilst 2 have been drawn affairs.
Slingerz prevailed over Alpha in match-ups in the Stag Elite League, winning the Genesis opening match, Genesis final and the Finale first round clash. The sides battled to draws in their Genesis opening match and the Finale second round match-up. Prior to the Stag Elite League, Sliungerz had downed Alpha in the Kashif and Shanghai 2015 final.
Alpha would have defeated Slingerz in the finals of the 2013 Mayor’s Cup, Slingerz Gold for Goal Cup and Vision Sound Goodwill Series, all in 2013.
This intense and healthy rivalry will once again be renewed when the two giants of local football collide on Sunday night at the Leonora Track and Field Facility Football Filed in the final of the historic FINALE, the second and final phase of the STAG Elite League.
Slingerz will start as odds on favourite have been the only unbeaten team in the FINALE as well as winners of the GENESIS leg of the championship. In attack and defense the West Demerara based Slingerz have the best record, scoring 46 goals whilst only conceding 9.
Alpha on the other hand has scored 40 goals and conceded 11. While the stats are there and cannot be changed, the Technical experts from both teams are hard at work in devising a plan to combat each other, come

Sunday night next.
Kaieteur Sport spoke with both coaches to get an insight into their plans for the big showdown. Joseph ‘Bill’ Wilson, the man who has been silently plotting a rich history for Slingerz FC said that the mood of his players is as usual, “Calm and focused.”
The experienced Wilson noted that preparations have gone well so far pointing out that all matches are important to them.
“Our focus and commitment is at an all time high. Winning this league is what we have set out to do from the inception. We intend to leave no stone unturned in pursuit of this objective.” Wilson concluded.
Wilson’s opposite number, Wayne ‘Wiggy’ Dover has been at the helm of Alpha as their chief tactician since 2006 is keen on turning the tables against his fiercest opponent in order to regain the status as the number one club side in Guyana, a position they had held before being toppled by new kids on the block, Slingerz.
Dover also informed that preparations have gone as planned and was happy to report that

players have been coming out in numbers.
“Our main focus going into this game on Sunday would be to score our chances we’ll create and to prevent them from scoring against us. We’ve allowed some soft goals to score against us in all the encounters we have had with them recently and not scoring the many chances we created. So definitely, this would be our main focus.”
Dover expressed thank to their many fans for sticking with them through the good and the bad times and is encouraging them to come out in their numbers on Sunday night to support.
“To our few fans, we would like to call on you to come out and be very vocal, we’ll try our very best to ensure we don’t let you down this time around. So come out in your numbers and celebrate with us at the end of the game.”
While noting that this final is just another big match in the running rivalry between Alpha and Slingerz, Dover pointed out that it is important for his side to be victorious since losing can see them losing the #1 billing in Guyana.
“It is important for us to win this game and the tournament overall as it would be a game that can see us knocked off the top as Guyana’s #1 team. Slingerz and their fans can’t just simply be given #1 status, you gain that by winning your country’s national league and this is an opportunity for us to retain it.”
“Win, win, win is our watch word from now until the final. The confidence level of the players going into this game is very high as they feel this is the time for them to win and retain, no regain our #1 status.”
Both Wilson and Dover expressed gratitude on behalf of their players to their respective Presidents, Javid Ali and Odinga Lumumba for their continued investment in keeping the clubs relevant.
Sunday’s third place playoff will see Pele taking on Fruta Conquerors in what is anticipated to be another mouthwatering affair with Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson expected to play following the lifting of his provisional ban by the Disciplinary Committee of the Guyana Football Federation.

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