A monumental showdown is set for Saturday night at the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) National Training Center (NTC) at Providence, East Bank Demerara, as weeks of enthralling football action culminates in an epic clash of the disciplined forces’ football teams.
The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) will do battle on Saturday, July 22, 2023 at the aforementioned venue for a chance to lift the spanking new KFC Elite League trophy.
The new trophy was built by the Federation’s trusted partner, Brass Aluminum and Cast Iron Foundry (BACIF).
The scenarios for the final game of the league will see GDF, currently on 22 points, needing only a draw to claim the trophy, while the GPF, currently on 21 points, must win in order to take the trophy back to Eve Leary.
With both sides of the rivalry planning to bring out their support in the form of musicians and boisterous spectators, the match can be deemed the most anticipated senior football clash of 2023.
KFC’s Marketing Manager Pamella Manasseh shared: “We’re super excited (and) we are actually privileged to be a part of GFF, as always, we are like family. So, this is something that I’m super excited for. We’re going to try to get as much people out there to ensure that this is one of the most fantastic games you’ve ever seen in Guyana.”
Meanwhile, Head Coaches of both teams and players got a glimpse of the League’s Championship trophy during a face off at KFC’s Vlissengen Road Headquarters.
When quizzed about the emotions in their camp ahead of D-Day, GPF FC Head Coach Wayne Dover said, “We feel very confident, as a team going out on Saturday to get a victory, which is much needed. We will continue to prepare and the vibes in the camp is very upbeat. So, we looking forward to Saturday to get this result, to make the police the new champions of the Guyana Football Federation Elite League.”
He continued about intimidation tactics leading up to the feature game: “Well, oh, yeah, we sent a message in our last three games, we scored 20 goals and conceded one. So, that is a good intimidating factor for them. We hope that they study that a lot and not focus much on what they have to do so that we could come up on top.”
Accompanying Dover was an optimistic Jermine Junor, who described what a first Elite League Championship would mean to the policemen.
“It would mean a lot,” Junor said.
“Well, everybody is very happy about this game, first of all, because it’s the first time that Police Football club in Elite League, could be the champions. And we’re sticking to our ‘guns’, in terms of the preparation and everything because everything is going well right now in the camp.”
On the other hand, it was cool, calm and collected on the GDF side.
Captain Kenard Simon responded to inquiries about the game, asking, “Big game?”
Simon further stated, “Well, the feelings in the camp right now is normal. You know, everybody is just focused on what we have to do on Saturday, what we came in the league to do and that’s it, not a big game.”
An equally composed Head Coach in Joseph Wilson, noted that it will be business as usual for the soldiers.
“This (is) business as usual with the Guyana Defence Force Football team, we always treat every game with the same kind of respect, with the same kind of energy, the same kind of focus.”
“I have noticed that this game is being billed as a final, probably the final game in the league. And GDF football club, has been treating every single game, as our last game in our lives, that’s how we go about the business. That’s the winning mentality that we have,” Wilson remarked.
The clash is set to kick off at 21:00h. However, the KFC Elite League action on that day will commence at 18:00h with a battle between Fruta Conquerors FC and Den Amstel FC. (Modified Press Release from the GFF)
