GFF draws battle line for Elite League promotion

Nov 23, 2023 Sports

…tournament to kick off December 10

By Rawle Toney

Kaieteur Sports – The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has unleashed the drama with its exhilarating draw for the Elite League playoff tournament.

Last night, the GFF Training Centre played host to the spectacle, bringing together league champions from various member associations, and setting the scene for a clash of football titans.

Representatives from Buxton Stars (East Coast Demerara Football Association), Dartmouth (Essequibo/Pomeroon Football Association), Herstelling Raiders (East Bank Demerara Football Association), Monnederlust (Berbice Football Association), Slingerz FC (West Demerara Football Association), Tabatinga (Rupununi Football Association), and Winners Connection (Upper Demerara Football Association) converged for the draw that could reshape the football landscape.

Captains from the nine teams involved in the GFF Elite League promotion tournament.

The stakes are high, as the playoff will not only determine promotions but also decide the fates of teams facing relegation, all in anticipation of the upcoming Elite League Season Six, set to kick off its grand spectacle in February 2024.

Post-draw revelations unveiled the intriguing groupings, where Group A emerges as a battlefield featuring Buxton Stars FC, Beacons FC (Bartica), and Monnederlust.

Group B promises intense showdowns with Tabatinga, Herstelling Raiders, and Beacon FC (Georgetown), while Group C, the group of champions, assembles the inaugural Elite League winners Slingerz FC, alongside Dartmouth and Winners Connection.

GFF Elite League Promotional Playoff Draw

The tournament fires up on December 10 and the opening clashes are nothing short of riveting: Buxton Stars FC squares off against Beacons FC (Bartica), Tabatinga takes on Herstelling Raiders, and Slingerz FC embarks on a journey to Cinderella County to face Dartmouth.

The road to supremacy is paved with challenges, and only the top teams from each group, along with the best second-place team, will progress to the semifinals.

The winner of the finals will claim a direct ticket to the coveted GFF Elite League.

GFF Elite League Promotional Playoff Draw fixtures

Meanwhile, the losing finalist gets a shot at redemption against Victoria Kings for a chance to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the country’s elite clubs.

Troy Peters, the GFF’s Competition Director, said the plan is to play on Saturdays at Eve Leary, Rosignol Ground, Bartica Community Center, Buxton Ground, Wisburg Secondary School Ground, Tuschen Ground, Anna Regina Multilateral Ground, and Wadapna Ground.

The climax on January 6 promises not just glory but also a sweet bonus, as the GFF pledges a generous preparation grant of $1M to the clubs making the leap to the Elite League.

However, Peters reminded everyone that this grand opportunity hinges on meeting the GFF/Concacaf Club Licensing prerequisites, underscoring the federation’s commitment to elevating the standard of Guyanese football to new heights.

Berbice Football Association, Elite League, Essequibo/Pomeroon Football Association, Monnederlust, Slingerz FC

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