[www.inewsguyana.com] – The Guyana Floodlights Cricket Association (GFCA) will run off their fourth edition of the Guyana Softball Cup on October 31 at various venues across Guyana.
The first place prize of $800,000 was revealed on Wednesday, October 01 at the launching of the tournament at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Players Pavillion.
The second place finishers will receive a total of $200,000 and a trophy while the Mater’s top prize will be $600,000 and second $150,000.
Seven teams will be coming from New York, three from Florida and two from Canada along with 12 local teams to make up a total of 24 teams in the tournament.
Minister of Sport Dr Frank Anthony, on hand for the launching, applauded the efforts of the Association.
“All my wishes for your tournament have exceeded our expectation… Cricket as a whole is very important to Guyana and is regarded as our national game.
“Softball Cricket is the way you were introduced to the game so Cricket is engrained in us… you have filled a much needed niche in taking an unorganized style of cricket and making it organized and that should be commended,” Anthony stated.
President of the GFCA, Ramchand Ragbeer highlighted that the tournament is one of the flagship event of the association.
“I can assure that this year will be bigger and better, several teams from the USA and Canada will be here and we at the GFCA pledge that we will take softball cricket to the highest level in cricket,” Ragbeer lamented.
The tournament that started in 2011 has grown and will see Trophy Stall aiming to defend their open title while New York Better Hope will look to retain the Master’s title.
Thirty six preliminary games are expected to be played along with four semifinals and two finals. There will also be a couple of women’s exhibition games on the final day which is scheduled for November 2.
