By Avenash Ramzan
Buoyed on by a large band of supporters, Queen Street-Tiger Bay turned in a sterling performance to defeat Stevedore Housing Scheme 2-0 to earn the title of ‘champions’ of the Georgetown leg of the sixth annual Guinness Street Football competition on Saturday evening at the National Park tarmac.
Playing in front of a packed venue, Hope Street-Tiger Bay had earlier needled Albouystown B 1-0 to take the third place playoff.
In the championship game-dubbed a clash of the only two unbeaten teams in the competition-Queen Street-Tiger Bay clearly appeared the hungrier team, constantly creating opportunities and challenging Stevedore’s defence.
After a few close shaves with the small goal, Queen Street-Tiger Bay finally broke the deadlock in the 13th minute through a Leon Fredericks goal to go 1-0 up. The goal visibly shook the confidence of the Stevedore lads and catapulted Queen Street-Tiger Bay’s as the latter team started to concentrate on protecting their one goal advantage.
Although Stevedore tried desperately to equalise, they were met with a stern defence that repeatedly denied the challenges they put forward. Any hope they had of rebounding and capping a come-from-behind victory was thwarted in the 27th minute when Alpha Fletchman blasted in Queen Street-Tiger Bay’s second and final goal to seal the match.
For the victory, the champions walked away with Gy$ 500,000 cash, the championship trophy and bragging rights, while Stevedore Housing Scheme had to settle for Gy$ 300,000 and the runner-up trophy.
Both teams however, have qualified as Georgetown representatives at the national playoff next year.
In the third place playoff, Hope Street-Tiger Bay needled just a solitary goal to get past Albouystown B. That all-important strike came off the boot of Rensford Coleridge in the fifth minute.
Hope Street-Tiger Bay collected Gy$ 200,000 and a trophy, while Albouystown B received Gy$ 100,000 and a trophy.
In the two exhibition games that preceded that final and third place play off, Guinness Bar edged Globe Yard 3-2 and Oasis Taxi got the better of the Media side 2-0.
Successful competition
Speaking to the media after the presentation ceremony, representatives of the various stakeholders, who have worked to put together the tournament over the years, all agreed that the Georgetown leg was a huge success.
Guinness Brand Manager, Lee Baptiste, said Banks DIH Limited is satisfied with the outcome of the tournament in terms of the quality of play seen and the large crowd that flocked the various venues.
Banks DIH Limited’s Communications Manager, Troy Peters, echoed similar sentiments, adding that the aim of the concept was to unearth the talents in the streets, and it has been successful in this regard over the years.
The Petra Organisation has partnered with Banks DIH Limited to stage the tournament, and according to co-director of that body, Troy Mendonca, several other zone competitions will be hosted in early 2014 to determine the teams that will contest the national playoff.
Zone competitions are on stream for Berbice, East Coast Demerara, West Demerara, Linden and Bartica.
The winner of the national playoff in June will earn the right to represent Guyana at the Guinness Caribbean Street Challenge the following month in Trinidad and Tobago.
