Nineteen (19) teams will vie to outdo each other over the course of November and be crowned East Coast Demerara champions of the GT Beer seven-a-side 5/5 Tapeball competition, sponsored by Banks DIH Limited.
After launching a similar tournament in Essequibo, the beverage company has zoned on in East Coast, with three match days slated for the Enmore Community Centre ground.
The first set of games will be played on November 5 from 09:30h, followed by the final group of round-robin matches on November 19 and the knockout games and final on November 26 under lights.
Over G$400,000 in cash and prizes are at stake, with the champion team guaranteed G$200,000. The losing finalist will collect G$100,000, third G$40,000 and fourth G$20,000.
All cash prizes will be accompanied by trophies. There are also several individual awards in the form of cash and trophies up for grabs.
Teams will be awarded two points for a win, and one point for a tie or no-result.
Admission to the games is free, and apart from the on-field action, there will be several family-oriented activities beyond the boundary.
GT Beer Brand Manager Dwain Bristol said there is the bonus of the champion side representing East Coast Demerara in a national playoff featuring the winning teams from other districts.
“We’re looking forward to the games being played in the right spirit. I know we’re all competitive and want to win, but just come out and have fun and make it a tournament to remember,” Bristol told representatives during a team briefing.
Bristol explained that at the end of the Essequibo and East Coast legs, action will resume in other areas in January 2024.
Key Accounts Manager of Banks DIH Limited and one of the coordinators, Shameer Shahib, said the ultimate aim is to cover eight catchment areas around the country, with the winners meeting in the national playoff.
The specific areas and competition dates are to be finalised.
Shahib encouraged the teams to stick to the rules of the competition and play within the spirit of the game while having fun.
He noted that GT Beer, and by extension Banks DIH Limited, is committed to community development by investing in grassroots activities like Tapeball cricket, which has been growing not only in players’ participation, but viewership at the venues.
