THE SIXTH annual edition of the Guinness Street Football Challenge is expected to kick off tomorrow with the first of four play-off rounds, at the Skinner Park Basketball Courts in San Fernando. Tomorrow’s round of action will get going from 5 pm.
The second play-off round will take place on April 30 at Constantine Park Basketball Courts in Macoya; the third play-off will be staged on May 7 at the Jean Pierre Complex West Basketball Courts in Mucurapo; while the last playoff is slated for May 14 at the Shaw Park Basketball Courts in Scarborough, Tobago. The sister-isle will also host the local final, on June 4 - at a venue to be determined.
Guinness has upped the ante and is now awarding the winners and runners-up of each playoff with TT $2,500 and TT $1,500 respectively.
In addition to these cash prizes, the top three finishers in the local final will receive $20,000, $10,000 and $5,000 respectively.
The TT winners will then go to St Lucia to compete in the July 2-3 regional final for additional cash and prizes.
In 2015, the Grand Caribbean Championship was held in Kingston, Jamaica, with the TT team falling short in the preliminary round and failing to advance to the semi-final. In the end, St Lucia beat Barbados 4-1 to claim the 2015 title.
Melicia Wilson-Aquing, marketing manager for Guinness Trinidad and Tobago, was quoted as saying, “the Guinness Street Football Challenge provides the opportunity for our consumers to show they are ‘Made of More’ and to highlight the best players of neighbouring communities through healthy competition.
It gives them inspiration and hope, while reminding them they are capable of great achievements irrespective of circumstances.” Wilson-Aquing added, “the tournament brings communities together, combining love for the sport with entertainment and audience engagement. Guinness is proud to host this annual challenge and contribute to community- building.” During the playoffs, there will be lots of audience challenges and giveaways courtesy of Guinness, while there will be free entrance to the public, for all of the local rounds of games.
Teams are encouraged to register now for the playoffs as spots are limited. To register, visit www.
gsfctt.com or call 328-4277. Teams must purchase a six pack of Guinness at the bar on game day to complete the registration process.
To follow the tournament, get exciting weekly updates and see footage from the weekly playoffs, ‘like’ the Guinness Caribbean Facebook page, facebook.com/Guinness.