Sparta Boss, Tucville clash today in dream finale
In what can be described as a dream finale, Sparta Boss will engage Tucville today in the Xtreme Cleaners/GT Beer Gold Rush Futsal Championship final at the National Gymnasium, following semi-final wins on Thursday.
The match, which will be a rematch from the group stage [Tucville won 4-2], occurred after Sparta Boss crushed Albouystown 5-1 and Tucville downed Sophia 64.
It is also the third meeting of the budding rivals and is also a rematch of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Georgetown final in December 2016, which ended 1-0 in favour of the Spartans.
Tournament favourite, Sparta Boss, ended the championship aspirations of the youthful Albouystown unit in front of a huge multitude, with goals on either side of half time in the 40 minute showdown.
It was a clinical display from the North East La Penitence unit, as Eusi Phillips, Solomon Austin, Gregory Richardson, Devon Millington and Dennis Edwards scored in the second, 7th, 23rd, 25thand 29th minute apiece.
For Albouystown, Lennox Cort netted in the 28th minute. On the other hand, Tucville battled past Sophia in rematch from the earlier round-robin stage. The previous match ended 1-1.
It was a fixture of two halves, as Tucville romped to a 4-1 lead at the end of the first half, only to survive a scare following an attempted comeback in the second period due to complacency.
Jermin Junior, the event’s current top marksman, bagged a first half hat-trick in the fourth, seventh and 14th minute to bring his tally to nine goals, while Dennis Edwards also found the back of the net three times in the fifth, 30th and 34th minute. Cyclists competing for the prestigious titles of National Time Trial and Road Race Champion will take centre stage this weekend.
The time trials which starts at 09:30hrs today will serve as the official kick-off to the annual Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF), National Cycling Championships.
The Time Trial for all divisions will be held today. The solo trek will take the riders from the starting point of Hairuni to Long Creek and back. The estimated time trial is eight miles.
Time trials are commonly referred to as the ‘race of truth’ as they require considerable mental concentration and toughness as well as the ability to tolerate intense physical discomfort.
Cyclists compete individually and against only one competitor — the timing clock. Every split seconds counts. Riders’ aerodynamics matched with their physical skills adds up to a simple equation. The fastest man on a bike on any given day
For Sophia, Omallo Williams netted in the sixth and 32nd minute alongside solitary conversions from Desmond Cottam and Stephen Dolphin in the 35th and 36th minute respectively.
Meanwhile, the losing semi-finalists will face-off in the third place playoff at 21:00hrs. Winner of the event will pocket $500,000 and the championship trophy. On the other hand, the runners-up will receive $200,000 and wins. Tomorrow from 08:00hrs, the juniors and veterans will compete in the 70-mile road race from Homestretch Avenue to Camp Weslyan on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway and back. The female and juvenile riders will compete in a 53-mile race which also starts on Homestretch Avenue but turns back at Timehri’s bottleneck and finishes at the point of origin.
One week later, the senior riders will take centre stage in a historic and grueling 103-mile race from Homestretch Avenue to Camp Soweyo and back.
Geron Williams, the 2014 and 2016 National Road Race champion, is currently plying his trade on the US circuit but he is expected to defend his title on race day. Williams is expected to be challenged by standout cyclists: Shaquel Agard, Paul DeNobrega, Andrew Hicks, Raynauth Jeffrey, Hamza Eastman, Jamal John, Romello Crawford and Alonzo Ambrose. (Emmerson Campbell) the respective accolade.
The third and fourth place finisher will pocket $100,000 and the $50,000 respectively and the corresponding accolade. On the individual side, $50,000 will be awarded to the Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Other sponsors of the event include Fas Grafix, Jefford’s Distribution and Sales, Giftland Distribution Store and FARMSUP Mining Investments Inc.