Inter Community/League Football Competition Opens

Football fans longing for some entertaining Football will just have to wait a little longer, as the opening matches of the Hairoun Beer National Invitational Inter Community/ League Competition did not offer much.{{more}}

The competition opened last Sunday with a double header in the Senior Division, but despite many current national players on show, there was not much brilliance.

The first encounter saw one of the pre-tournament favourites, Layou, edging out a spirited West Kingstown, 2-1.

Goals in the 55th and 57th minutes, by Shandell Samuel and Myron Samuel, respectively, enabled Layou to keep the lead. Dexter John cut the deficit in half in the 71st minute, from the penalty spot.

The night capper was even worse, and Gloja’s Central Kingstown and Calliaqua played to an uninspiring goalless draw.

Prior to the two opening matches, a colourful March Past of some of the competition teams took place.

Addressing the ceremony were President of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation Venold Coombs and Parliamentary Representative St Clair Leacock, who stood in for West Kingstown’s MP, Daniel Cummings.

Eighteen teams stashed in three zones are competing in the Senior Division.

In Zone A are North Leeward, Barrouallie, Layou, Buccament, West Kingstown and South Leeward.

East Kingstown, Central Kingstown, Bequia, Arnos Vale, Calliaqua and Sion Hill are contesting Zone B.

In Zone C are North Windward, Georgetown, Greiggs, Stubbs, Marriaqua and Brighton.

Following the preliminary round of competition, four teams from each of the three zones advance to the next phase of competition. The overall winner pockets $10,000.

Competition is also in the Under-13, Under-17 and Women.

The developmental Under-13’s winners will receive Football paraphernalia as gifts, with the Under-17s vying for the winner’s purse of $5,000 and the women going after the first place of $3,000.

In total, the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation is set to pay out $32,000 in prize monies.

Matches in the competitions will be played at the Victoria Park, the Campden Park Playing Field, the Chili Playing Field and others.

The SVGFF has come up with some special promotional packages for matches at the Victoria Park.

Sunday is dubbed Family Day, Wednesday is called “Dollar Wednesday,” when admission is only one dollar, and on Fridays, three persons get into the venue for $10.

Additionally, there will be specials on products from the sponsors.(RT)