Suriname, Brazil, T&T clubs to feature in GFF/ExxonMobil/STAG Beer Futsal tournament
Nationals 2018

Skeete, Roberts complete U-18 sprint doubles in impressive fashion

By Michelangelo Jacobus

ON day five of the National Schools Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships at the National Track and Field Centre (NTFC), Leonora, West Coast Demerara, U-18 sprinters Deshana Skeete (District 10) and Deron Roberts (District 13) completed the sprint double by copping their 200m events respectively.
Roberts, who won the 100m (10.94s) in the Boys’ U-18 category on Wednesday, held off stiff competition from District 11’s Daniel Benjamin and District 5’s Godwin Humphrey.
Benjamin pipped Humphrey to claim silver while the latter had to settle for bronze.
Deshana Skeete comprehensively beat her opposition by at least 6 metres in a time of 25.29s to cop gold in the 200m Girls’ U-18 and closed off the double.
With Skeete’s dominance, the race was on for silver and Aaliyah Kellman (District 14) fended off District 3’s Binka Joseph for silver.
Earlier in the Boys’ U-20 200m event, Shane Haynes (District 10) copped gold ahead of Alwyn Prince (District 4) who claimed silver while District 11’s Anthony Prince had to settle for bronze.
Tonya Rawlins (District 3) easily claimed the 200m Girls’ U-20 event to seal the double, winning emphatically ahead of District 13’s Annalisa Redmond (silver) and District 10’s Leona James (bronze).
In the 1500m events, Ronell Newton (District 10) copped his second gold medal of this year’s Nationals, when he convincingly won the U-20 race. The outspoken Newton said that he was pleased with his performance noting that he always had the confidence that he would win the event. Newton will once again compete in the 5 000m today where he hopes to make it three out of three.
District 13’s Leyanna Charles also showed her pedigree by winning the 1500m Girls’ U-20 race by some distance.
After making a clean sweep of the distance events in the U-16 category last year, Murphy Nash avenged his 800m loss by convincingly winning the 1500m U-16 Boys’ race, District 6’s Darel Davis managed to hold off District 9’s Garvin Stephen for the silver.
Another Lindener, Tia Azore (District 10), claimed the Female U-16 1500m event ahead of District 4’s Aaliyah Headley while Tatiana Andrew (District 9) settled for the bronze medal.

POINTS UPDATE
The points standings thus far have defending champions District 10 (Upper Demerara/Kwakwani) leading on 416 points while District 3 (West Demerara) are trailing on 290.5 points, with District 4 (East Coast Demerara) third on 280.5 points. District 5 (West Coast Berbice) are currently fourth on 269 points and District 15 fifth with 260 points.
The final day of action is today with the 400m finals and Relay events.
Nationals 2018 Skeete, Roberts complete U-18 sprint doubles in impressive fashion By Michelangelo Jacobus ON day five of the National Schools Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships at the National Track and Field Centre (NTFC), Leonora, West Coast Demerara, U-18 sprinters Deshana Skeete (District 10) and Deron Roberts (District 13) completed the sprint double by copping their 200m events respectively. Roberts, who won the 100m (10.94s) in the Boys’ U-18 category on Wednesday, held off stiff competition from District 11’s Daniel Benjamin and District 5’s Godwin Humphrey. Benjamin pipped Humphrey to claim silver while the latter had to settle for bronze. Deshana Skeete comprehensively beat her opposition by at least 6 metres in a time of 25.29s to cop gold in the 200m Girls’ U-18 and closed off the double. With Skeete’s dominance, the race was on for silver and Aaliyah Kellman (District 14) fended off District 3’s Binka Joseph for silver. Earlier in the Boys’ U-20 200m event, Shane Haynes (District 10) copped gold ahead of Alwyn Prince (District 4) who claimed silver while District 11’s Anthony Prince had to settle for bronze. Tonya Rawlins (District 3) easily claimed the 200m Girls’ U-20 event to seal the double, winning emphatically ahead of District 13’s Annalisa Redmond (silver) and District 10’s Leona James (bronze). In the 1500m events, Ronell Newton (District 10) copped his second gold medal of this year’s Nationals, when he convincingly won the U-20 race. The outspoken Newton said that he was pleased with his performance noting that he always had the confidence that he would win the event. Newton will once again compete in the 5 000m today where he hopes to make it three out of three. District 13’s Leyanna Charles also showed her pedigree by winning the 1500m Girls’ U-20 race by some distance. After making a clean sweep of the distance events in the U-16 category last year, Murphy Nash avenged his 800m loss by convincingly winning the 1500m U-16 Boys’ race, District 6’s Darel Davis managed to hold off District 9’s Garvin Stephen for the silver. Another Lindener, Tia Azore (District 10), claimed the Female U-16 1500m event ahead of District 4’s Aaliyah Headley while Tatiana Andrew (District 9) settled for the bronze medal. POINTS UPDATE The points standings thus far have defending champions District 10 (Upper Demerara/Kwakwani) leading on 416 points while District 3 (West Demerara) are trailing on 290.5 points, with District 4 (East Coast Demerara) third on 280.5 points. District 5 (West Coast Berbice) are currently fourth on 269 points and District 15 fifth with 260 points. The final day of action is today with the 400m finals and Relay events.

THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has partnered with ExxonMobil and Ansa McAl to launch an eight-team International Futsal tournament, which will be played from December 27 to 30.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Morvant Caledonia United will head the list of teams from overseas which also features ZV All-Stars from Suriname, and Brazilian side from the state of Sau Paulo.

While in Guyana, the teams will collide with a Guyana select side, along with a team from Linden, East Bank Demerara and West Demerara football associations.
GFF is yet to say where the tournament will be held, but tentatively, the National Park and Cliff Anderson Sports Hall are the venues earmarked to host the first international Futsal tournament in Guyana.

The winning side will pocket $1.2M, while second through fourth place will go home with $600 000, $300 000 and $100 000 respectively.
Wayne Forde, president of the GFF, in lauding Ansa McAl and ExxonMobil for their support, made a rallying call to futsal fans to support the event, telling reporters that his Federation is looking forward to a tournament that will be worthy of the investment the sponsors are making.

“I want to encourage the general public to support the tournament because we have many days of exciting football with an exciting international flavour and I have every reason to believe that the fans are going to have a great experience,” the GFF boss noted.

Nicholas Yearwood, ExxonMobil Communications Adviser, who pointed out that this is its second involvement in the Futsal arena, having partnered with New Era Entertainment for the tournament in Linden, said the track record and involvement of the Medal of Service recipients Kashif and Shanghai Organisation made it easy for them to make a decision to come on board.

Meanwhile, Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr George Norton, who also holds the responsibility for sport, said while he’s happy to see International Futsal being played in Guyana, he would have been more pleased if teams from the hinterland could have been involved.
The Minister wished the GFF well and stated his Government’s support in ensuring that the tournament is run in a smooth manner.

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