Future Stars, Ol Skool Ballers to battle in Guinness ‘Cage’ final
Future Stars will battle underdog Ol Skool Ballers in the final of the Guinness ‘Cage’ Football Championships Saturday following semi-final wins against Leopold Street and Back Circle respectively on Tuesday.
Future Stars continued their meteoric rise on the local football circuit, downing the highly-touted Leopold Street unit 2-1 on penalty kicks in front of a sizeable crowd at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.
Jermaine Junior and Lennox Cort netted from the distance during the tense penalty shoot-out with only Samuel Hunte scoring for Leopold Street.
The clash, which ended scoreless during the regulation and extra time intervals, pitted the air-tight defence of the youthful Future Stars unit, a team that has only conceded once, against the tourney’s leading offence with 12 goals led by tourney top shot Okeene Fraser [7 conversions].
Meanwhile, the impressive Ol Skool Ballers continued their giant killing ways as they added Back Circle to the ever growing list of vanquished teams, winning by a 3-2 score line.
Back Circle’s name was added to the list which already features Sparta Boss, Albouystown-A, Broad Street and Albouystown-B, following goals from Roy Cassou, Quason McAulay and Fabian Crawford in the back and forth encounter.
Cassou, McAulay and Crawford scored in the 10th, 12th and 45th minute to seal their team’s maiden final appearance. For the losing team, Stephan McLean netted twice in the 17th and 49th minute.
Back Circle and Leopold Street will faceoff in the traditional third place playoff.
The winner of the historic event will receive $400,000 and the championship trophy. The runnerup will pocket $200,000 and the respective trophy.
Meanwhile, the third and fourth placed finishers will collect $100,000 and $50,000 respective and a trophy. On the individual side, the Most Valuable Player (MVP) will receive a gold chain from YK Investments and Pawn Shop and the respective accolade from Trophy Stall Bourda.
The complete list of the event sponsors are Star Party Rentals, Faye Joseph, Claude Geddes Recreational Sports Club, National Sports Commission, Windjammer International Hotel & Cuisine, E-Networks, Woodpecker Trophies & Sport, Y.K Investments & Pawn Shop, Henry Chase, Jai Signs, Trophy Stall, the Bike Shop and John Fernandes Ltd.