Magnum futsal returns February 2; Organiser pleads with GFF for release of players

The second Magnum Mash Cup Futsal tournament will make its return to the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue, where 32 teams are expected to do battle for top honours.

The winning team is guaranteed $600,000 and the championship trophy.

The launch was held on Tuesday at the Windjammer Hotel and Esan Griffith, who is the Organiser, indicated that all systems are in place for a riveting tournament, which has nine playing days.

As he spoke of exciting action on a platter for fans, Griffith also made a desperate appeal to the Guyana Football Federation, the country’s governing body for football, to allow players from Elite League team to compete in the tournament.

“I want to make a public appeal to the GFF. During our negotiations for the tournament, they would have put a sanction on all Elite League players playing in the tournament, so we want to make a public appeal to Mr [Wayne] Forde, President of the GFF, to rethink his position and to allow the players to come on board so that each community could have their best team during this completion,” Griffith stated.

In July 2018, the Guyana Football Federation had sent out a correspondence to Elite League clubs which stated “players are not permitted to compete in any competitions outside of those sanctioned under the auspices of the Elite League.”

The Magnum Mash Futsal is a collaborative effort with the National Sports Commission, and Director of Sport Christopher Jones indicated they will be increasing the various prizes given the positive impression the competition made in 2018.

Second and third will pocket $350,000 and $200,000 respectively.

ANSA McAL Trading, through the Magnum Tonic Wine, continues to embrace the tournament with the headline sponsorship.

Brand Manager for Magnum, Edison Jefford, foresees an exciting tournament given the popularity of the beverage among Guyanese.

The other playing days are February 5, 9, 13, 16, 19, 21, 24 and grand final on March 2. Bent Street are the defending champions.

Security at the venue would be treated with paramount importance, the organiser emphasised.