Courtesy: Stabroek News

'Elite Eight' left standing!

Flamingoes, Western Tigers eliminated as Futsal reaches Q/T Finals

Saturday, August 25th 2007

After several weeks of intense games, non-stop action and goals galore, the English/Kashif and Shanghai five-a-side tournament has now reached fever pitch with only the 'elite eight' left standing.

The competition will open up the quarter-final stage tonight with the eight remaining teams all knowing that they are just three wins away from being crowned 2007 Futsal champions.

On Thursday night it was not an altogether good night for animals and birds as Flamingoes and Western Tigers were the latest teams to fall by the wayside failing to get out of the round of sixteen.

In the marquee game of the night, the Guyana Defence Force tamed the Tigers 4-1 mainly through a double by Rayon Morrison. Morrison struck in the 13th and 29th minutes in between which Western Tigers were given a glimmer of hope through a Phillip Rowley goal in the 16th minute.

But goals from Devon Atkinson and Seon Brewley put paid to any hope the Tigers had of qualifying.

In the supporting match-up, defending champions Flamingoes were left with nothing to defend as Alpha United edged them 4-3.

Alpha United defender, Sherwin Vincent, made frequent excursions into the Flamingo area and was rewarded for his skill and persistence with goals in the 28th and 31st minutes.

He was well supported by Gordon Henry and Frank Dover with one goal apiece.

Flamingo's goals came off the boots of Eon Squires, D. Payne and J. Lynch.

Tonight's first two exhibition games will pit the Cayenne Crew against employees of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company and Rolex Investments against The Young Men's Christian Association.

After that, the Kashif and Shanghai Organization and English Productions square off in a battle featuring no less than the organizers themselves in competitive action.

Kashif Mohammed and Aubrey 'Shanghai' Major, will lead the charge for their group while the man credited with introducing organized Futsal in Guyana, Frank 'English' Parris, will shoulder the burden for his group as both teams seek to turn back the clock in a battle of the 'middle aged'.

Already rumours have been flying fast and furious about secret training regimens and 'surprise' players for both sides as they each seek bragging rights. Apart from 20 minutes of full fledged hysteria, the outcome is anybody's guess.

After the early entertainment the serious stuff begins with Silva Shattas of Linden and Fruta Conquerors taking on each other with a place in the semi-finals at stake.

Linden teams have been falling like dead flies since the competition entered the knock out stage and now Silver Shattas will look to carry the pride of the mining town into the round of four and salvage some pride for that community. In the feature game of the night, Alpha United and Uprising will duke it out again with the semi-finals looming large.

Kick off time is 7:30pm.



Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com