Guyana Defence Force crowned GFF Super 16 Cup 2019/2020 Champs, needle Conquerors

Jan 03, 2020 Sports

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Santos come from behind to nail Police for third

By Franklin Wilson

It was perhaps the most classiest end to a national tournament with all the pomp and ceremony and the confetti display as the champions of the

2019/2020 GFF Super 16 Cup, Guyana Defence Force lifted the trophy to usher in the start of a new year and decade on a high.
The Army lads, led by the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, Benjamin Opara who rode away with the Marics Honda 125cc Motor Cycle, scored the lone and winning goal which sealed the win over Fruta Conquerors in a match that produced a ding dong between the two sides, but it was the Army which came out all smiles at the end of combat earning them the first place prize of Two Million dollars, Conquerors collecting, One Million dollars.
On hand to witness a pulsating end to the eight (8) day, 16-team tournament were a number of dignitaries including Director General in the Ministry of the

Presidency – Hon Lt. Col. (Ret’) Joseph Harmon, Minister of Social Cohesion, Hon. Dr. George Norton, His Worship Mayor of Bartica Gifford Marshall, GFF President Wayne Forde, GFF Vice Presidents Brigadier (Retired) Bruce Lovell, Rawlston Adams, Ms. Thandi McAllister and Executive Member, Dion Inniss.Among the sponsors on hand were MACORP’s Managing Director Guillermo Escarraga, NAMILCO’s Managing Director Bert Sukhai, BACIF’s and General Manager of BACIF, Peter Pompey. Norton and
Harmon did the ceremonial kick off in the presence of Forde and Lovell to signal the start of the championship match.

GDF’s custodian, Enoch Carmichael was named the Best Goalkeeper of the tournament and received the Ian DeVeira sponsored trophy. The first half, whilst exchanges were back and forth, neither team were able to score.
It was until the 59th minute when Benjamin Opara registered what was the most important goal of the tournament and his five (5), Opara was also named player-of-the-match and received a NAMILCO Hamper for his exploits. Conquerors’ Delon Lanferman who also ended the tournament with five goals was kept quiet on the night by the GDF’s backline.
It was a fitting climax to a wonderful tournament and it was witnessed by the largest crowd at a football match for quite some time which is a good indication that the sports is on its way back. GDF Head Coach,

Joseph Wilson and his Technical Staff left the arena a happy bunch while Conquerors’ chief tactician, Sampson Gilbert and team left disheartened but not defeated as the reigning League Champs now have their eyes set on the Concacaf Club championship sometime in March this year.The third place clash between Santos and the Guyana Police Force saw the continued resurgence of Santos which clawed their way back from being two goals down to beat the Police Force 3-2, a match that had to be decided in extra time.
Led by player-of-the-match, Orin Yarde, Santos exploded at the death to lift his team to a memorable win when it seemed they were down but certainly not out of the third place frame. Police had ran away early leaders when Trayon Bobb sent them flaying in just the 5th minute with a well placed shot across goalkeeper Alex Murray.
It was by no means an easy walk for either team as the exchanges continued without relent. The second goal came but it was not in Santos’ favour, Police it was which doubled their advantage, this time the goal came from William Europe in the 71st minute.
By now, it was a foregone conclusion in the minds of many that it was all over bar the shouting for the Santos side, but they kept the belief that something still was going to happen for them.And they were sure right; while their comeback was orchestrated by an opposing player didn’t matter to them. Police defender, Trevon Lythcott it was who netted an own goal that sparked Santos revival and eventual win.
Lythcott’s 73rd minute goal knocked the wind out of the sails of the Police side, which for the second match blew their early advantage by allowing the opposition to surge back and win. Santos’ constant barrage in the attacking third finally paid off when Yarde banged in the neutralising goal in the first minute of added on time.Yarde’s goal sent the match into extra time, an additional half hour to decide the winner. The extra time took its toll on the Lawmen as their ability to rebound gradually waned whilst Santos’ push for victory continued to gain traction.
In the 114th minute, it was Yarde who would have driven the final nail against Police when he blasted the shot past the outstretched hands of Kavis Fraser to seal up their hold on the $500,000 third place winner prize. The Guyana Police Force for their efforts walked away with a cheque for $250,000.

 

 

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