Police FC and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) pulled off commanding wins last weekend when the Guyana Football Federation’s inaugural Elite League Cup opened at the National Training Centre, Providence.
Police thumped Den Amstel 9-0 in a game that never resumed after the half-time break, while GDF prevailed 5-0 over Fruta Conquerors.
In the main contest of the double-header, Den Amstel started the game with 10 players and their goalkeeper was subsequently given a red card.
After conceding nine goals in the opening half, Dem Amstel opted against taking the field for the second half.
As a consequence, Police FC was awarded the win based on the competition regulations, an official of the League confirmed to News Room.
Carl Griffith led the goal-scoring spree with a hat-trick (6th, 12th and 21st minutes), while Ryan Hackett netted a double (36th and 42nd minutes).
Devon Padmore (3rd), Nicholas McArthur (25th), Simeon Moore (41st) and Beveney McGarrell (44th) tucked in a goal apiece in the one-sided showdown.
In the opening game, GDF took an early lead when Abumchi Opara found the back of the net in the sixth minute. It remained a 1-0 game by the half-time break before the army men opened the floodgates in the second half.
Stephen McDonald (48th and 71st) and Ian Dooker (57th and 61st) quashed any hopes Fruta Conquerors had of staging a fightback after that early goal.
The Elite League Cup will continue on Wednesday (February 18) with Santos FC against Den Amstel from 18:30h and Slingerz FC versus Ann’s Grove United from 21:00h at the National Training Centre.
About the Elite League Cup
The new senior men’s competition has been introduced to increase meaningful, high-level competitive opportunities for elite players and clubs, while also strengthening pathways for player development and national team selection.
The inaugural Elite League Cup features nine Elite League clubs, drawn into three groups of three for the round-robin phase. Following group play, teams will advance to the knockout stage, which will culminate in the semi-finals, third-place playoff, and championship final.
The tournament boasts a competitive prize structure, including cash awards, trophies, medals, and incentives for outstanding individual performances:
- Champion: G$1 million
- Runner-up: G$700,000
- Third: G$500,000
- Fourth: G$300,000
In addition to competition honours, the Elite League Cup will serve as a key scouting platform for Golden Jaguars Head Coach Thomas Dooley and his Technical Support Staff, as they continue to identify, assess, and prepare players for national team duties.
All matches will be played at the GFF National Training Centre, providing a centralised, professional environment that supports high-performance competition.
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