Latest update March 21st, 2025 5:44 AM
Annual Mayor’s Cup 9-a-side Inter Ward/Village KO Football returns
Mid Atlantic Oil and Gas Company on board
Kaieteur News – The Annual Mayor’s Cup 9-a-side Inter Ward/Village Knockout Football tournament returns after a two year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The event, organised by former national footballer and Coach Lennox Arthur, has been held for some 40 years now and is in recognition of former Mayor of Georgetown Hamilton Green, who was also a former Prime Minister of Guyana. The current Mayor of Georgetown in Mayor Ubraj Narine.
Mayor Ubraj Narine
The event is set to be staged from Sunday March 27th with the opening salvo of games fixed for the Den Amstel ground on the West side from 5:00pm and conclude on Sunday April 17th at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground, Bourda with the quarter-finals, semis, third place playoff and Grand Finale.
At stake are prize money and the respective trophies with a first prize of $600,000, second prize $300,000, third $200,000 and fourth $100,000.
Mid Atlantic Oil and Gas Company has committed to the winning purse of $600,000 and Organiser Lennox Arthur has expressed pleasure at them coming on board at this point following the two year break of the tournament due to the current Covid-19 pandemic affecting life around the globe. He noted that fans and players alike have been starved for a return to football action and he was happy to see this corporate entity offering assistance.
A few others have also signaled their intent to aid the event and among them are: IPA, DDL, Digicel, Johil, John Fernandes, General Equipment, Busta, GTT, Namilco, Macorp, New Thriving, Sattar Gafoor, B. Megan, Pritipaul Singh, Ready Mix, Eddie Bobcat, Silvie’s, Caribbean Containers, E Networks, Super Bet, Cummings Electrical, China Trading, Dave Lumber yard and Schlumberger.
Arthur is calling on other sponsors to come on board to ensure the success of the tournament. He stated that they will have to operate under strict Covid protocols to ensure the health and safety of all, hence the curtailing of the amount of fans being at the various venues, except by the time the event is underway permission is granted for a full fan turnout, which he noted would be highly unlikely, hence his call for the sponsors to assist.
Lennox Arthur
Meanwhile, the former footballer and Coach released the tournament fixtures, rules and teams invited to compete. The Inter Ward/Village setup will see the teams representing their respective areas and are as follows: West Demerara – Den Amstel, Uitvlugt, Pouderoyen, Stewartville, Wales, Sara Lodge, West Side Masters, Belle West All Stars and Back Street Kings.
East Coast – Mahaica, Brush Dam, Buxton Youth Developers, Melanie, Ann’s Grove, Golden Grove, Beterverwagting (BV), Victoria, Plaisance, Lilliendaal and Turkeyen.
Georgetown – Charlestown, Campbellville, Bourda All Stars, Road Warriors, Tucville and Sparta Boss.
East Bank – Timehri, Mocha and Agricola.
Berbice – New Amsterdam, Mahaicony and Airy Hall All Stars.
Among some of the rules that makes the tournament interesting and exciting is the no offside rule and teams are allowed five substitutions. The games are of two 20-minute halves for a 40-minute duration. The tournament is a straight knockout one with no extra time being played. A tie at the end of regulation would result in the teams dueling in the dreaded sudden death penalty shootout.
All other FIFA rules apply and the Referee is the sole authority of these games. Teams showing up late beyond a reasonable time determined by the organisers will be disqualified and their game forfeited via the walkover route.
Fans and players are in for a treat despite the Covid protocols during the five nights of action set for the Den Amstel, Buxton and GFC grounds. Opening Games on March 27 at Den Amstel should see Back Street Kings against Sara Lodge, Pouderoyen against Stewartville, Uitvlugt versus Wales, Den Amstel face West Side Masters then the winner of game 1 (as listed) face the winner of game 3 and winner of game 2 battle winners of game 4.
Games continue on Sunday April 3 at Buxton, followed by Saturday April 9 at GFC, Sunday April 10 again at GFC, and Sunday April 17 at GFC for the conclusion.
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