En route to Guinness finals
A massive precedent was set for the fifth annual Guinness Street Football Challenge on Saturday when Foundation Fire produced an absolutely ruthless display of small-goal magic in San Fernando as they moved into a fifth successive spot for the national finals.
A participant from the start as the name suggests, Foundation produced its best ever display as the sharp-shooters turned Skinner Park into a slug-fest scoring an unassailable 24 goals, more than any team has scored in one day since the tournament began in 2011.
Ironically, the playoff was decided by a lone goal in the final, that from Atiba Riley, who finished the day on four goals.
Foundation’s 1-0 win came against another familiar group of faces in Skillz that Killz, which also moved into the national finals.
Both teams will join five others from the three remaining playoffs, along with the reigning national and regional Guinness Street Football champion, Chelsea, for the local finals on June 13 at the Jean Pierre Complex, Mucurapo. There, the eight teams will challenge for $20,000 top prize, along with an all expenses paid trip to the regional finals in Jamaica, which run from June 27-28. The runner-up will take home $10,000, followed by $5,000 for the third place finisher.
The other local playoffs, set in Shaw Park, Tobago (Saturday), Jean Pierre Complex (May 23) and Constantine Park (May 30), now have a lot of hype to live up to given the standard set in Skinner Park. One team will advance from Tobago, while two will move on to the national finals from the Trinidad playoffs.
No other team scored more than four goals in one match. En route to its 24 goal tally, Foundation secured three wins with a six goal tally, all in the group stage, before moving into the playoff final with a 5-1 semi-final win over Bella United.
Former national futsal player, N’Kosi Gabriel, was both Foundation Fire and overall leading scorer with eight goals. His teammate Lyndon Ferguson was the third top scorer with six goals, while Bella United’s Stefan Rahim was second highest scorer with seven.
Guinness Street Football schedule
Playoff two—Shaw Park, Tobago, May 16, 5 pm
Playoff three—Jean Pierre Complex, Mucurapo, May 23, 5 pm
Playoff four—Constantine Park, Tunapuna, May 30, 5 pm
T&T finals—Jean Pierre Complex, June 13, 5 pm