GFA senior league on Petra’s 2020 wish list after fruitful 2019

Dec 27, 2019 Sports

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By Calvin Chapman

The most popular football promoting group in Guyana; Petra Organisation, had another relatively positive season in 2019 with the hosting of nine events and, “Despite it was challenging from the aspects of several of our sponsorship arrangements being cut and the usual unpredictable weather patterns, it was a successful year for us”, according to Co-director, Troy Mendonca.

Heading into 2020, Mendonca during an invited comment with Kaieteur Sport, noted that the Petra Organisation is looking to potentially add a 10th programme to their list of events, which will be a collaboration with the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) for the hosting of a senior first division league. This 10th event, if successfully brokered, will be heavily anticipated since the GFA clubs have been waiting for over two seasons to contest and complete a league.
In 2019, as has been the case throughout the years, Petra has focused heavily on grassroots football with six of their nine tournaments promoted being played at the youth level, namely, the Courts under-12 boys’ peewee, Smalta under-12 girls’ peewee, ExxonMobil boys’ and girls’ under-14, Milo under-18 school tournament, Guyoil/Tradewind Tankers under-18 school league and the KFC under-18 schools’ Goodwill Cup.

The senior competitions played were the Limacol football tourney, the Corona Futsal Cup and the incomplete Turbo Knockout Cup which is currently at the quarterfinal stage.
Here is a brief summary of the completed tournaments.
Guyoil/Tradewind Tankers school league
Lodge Secondary needled Annandale Secondary on the final match day of the second annual Guyoil/Tradewind Tankers under-18 school league to dethrone their East Coast based opponents who had pipped them in the inaugural championship. In their championship campaign, Lodge became the first team to win the event with a perfect win record.
KFC schools’ Goodwill tourney
The anticipated final of the second annual KFC Goodwill football tournament for under-18 secondary school teams saw Annai Secondary that travelled all the way from Region Nine, defeating Lodge Secondary comfortably 2-0 to become the second team to lift the title.

Lodge Secondary did all the leg work in beating the defending champions Shiva boys’ of Trinidad but couldn’t shake Annai Secondary
Milo school football
Christianburg Wismar Secondary School (CWSS) lived up to the expectations to win the seventh annual Milo Schools’ Football Tournament at the Ministry of Education on April 14th. CWSS’ Captain Andre Mayers’ composed penalty in the 67th of the final made the difference in the heated finale with former champions Lodge Secondary.
CWSS pocketed $500,000 to assist with school projects while Lodge received $300,000.
Exxon Mobil under-14
Cummings Lodge Secondary and East Ruimveldt Secondary were crowned male and female champions respectively of the ExxonMobil/ Petra Organisation schools’ U14 football tournament which concluded on August 3rd at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue.
In an exciting male final, Cummings Lodge edged Carmel Secondary 5-4 on penalties after the teams were locked at 2-2 following 50 minutes of regulation time and 12 minutes of extra time.
East Ruimveldt Secondary won the female final against New Campbellville Secondary 1-0 courtesy of an own goal by Imani Maxwell in the 41st minute. Carlita Ross of Charlestown Secondary with six goals took the award for the highest goal scorer, while the most valuable player accolade went to Sherry Rodrigues of East Ruimveldt.
Courts boys’ Peewee
St. Agnes emerged as the well-deserved champions of the 2019 edition of the COURTS Pee Wee football tournament after outplaying Genesis Primary in the final where they only netted one goal in extra-time.
Smalta girls’ Peewee
A brace from tournament MVP and highest goal scorer Martha Chance was enough to see 2018 runners-up North Georgetown gain sweet revenge on 2018 Champions West Ruimveldt 2-1 in the final of the 2019 Smalta girls’ peewee football tournament which was played at the Ministry of Education (MOE) ground on Carifesta Avenue on December 8.
Limacol
Although the Limacol football tourney was as senior tournament, it was dominated by the youths with Fruta Conquerors’ under-20 beating Santos under-20 in the final to cash in on the $400,000 first place cash prize.
Corona Futsal Cup
Fan favourites, Tiger Bay shot their way to a 4-3 win over Back Circle on June 10that the National Gymnasium to win their first title in the fourth annual Corona Futsal Tournament. The final was played in front a large and partisan crowd around 01:00hrs. Leading goal scorer, Most Valuable Player of the competition and captain of the winners’; Deon Alfred, banged in a hat-trick, to spearhead the victory for his side.
Tiger Bay carted off $500,000 cash and the championship trophy, while Back Circle received $250,000 for the second place finish.

 

 

 

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