Guinness begins Street Football Challenge

Football players in communities across St. Vincent and the Grenadines will have an opportunity to exhibit their greatness as Guinness presents the Guinness Street Football Challenge.{{more}} The event, which will run for about eight weeks, was launched on Wednesday, April 13, 2011, at the SVG Brewery Ltd.

The competition, which will take the form of a knockout football tournament, will be held at hard courts and streets island-wide. The first match will take place on April 16, 2001, at the Keartons Hard Court. The games will conclude on June 4, 2011.

Kasai Simmons, Guinness Brand Manager for St. Vincent Brewery Ltd, stated that the competition is an opportunity for customers to demonstrate and “connect with greatness at a personal level.” He added that it will also give players inspiration and hope, “reminding them that irrespective of their current circumstances they are capable of greatness.”

Simmons added that the excitement of the street challenge will not only be extended to the players, but also to football fans and other consumers as they can participate through exciting challenges at the games and bar promotions. Simmons added that a renowned football star in the English Premier League will also be present during the competition. “We will divulge details on our international ambassador shortly, but this player is someone who, on his own journey to Greatness, will inspire others to be great,” Simmons said.

Also making remarks, Ian Hypolite General Manager of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation, stated that the presence of the player from the English Premier League will give players some one to look up to. He added that as the federation seeks to build capacity they have noted that the “more persons play the better they become” at the game. He also gave his blessings to the Guinness Street Football Challenge.

The competition will take place in the following communities: North Leeward, Barrouallie, Layou, South Leeward, Kingstown, Sion Hill, Arnos Vale, Calliaqua, Marriaqua, Biabou, Georgetown, Sandy Bay, Bequia-Harbour, Mustique, Canouan, Union Island.

Giving the rules of the competition, Dominic Brisbane Brand Manager of SVG Brewery Ltd. said that up to 16 teams are allowed to register. He added that teams will consist of eight players (5 starters and 3 substitutes). Teams will compete head to head according to their zones as follows: North Leeward against Barrouallie, Layou against South leeward, Kingstown against Sion Hill, Arnos Vale against Calliaqua, Marriaqua versus Biabou, Georgetown versus Sandy Bay, Bequia Harbour versus Mustique and Canouan versus Union Island. Persons must be 18 and over to sign up for the competition.

Prizes will also be awarded to the winners. First place will receive $2,000, second place $1000, third place $500 and 4th place $250. Two hundred dollar prizes will also be awarded to the semifinal, quarterfinal, sweet 16 and preliminary winners of the competition.

The competition which is the first of its kind to be held in St. Vincent and the Grenadines will also be held in nine other Caribbean Countries this year including Haiti, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Maarteen, Antigua, St. Lucia, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago. A similar programme was held in Guyana last year. Persons can keep up with the competition via Facebook www.facebook.com/guinnesscaribbean.