FOOTBALL ACTION HEATING UP – ‘Round of 16’ of the Waggy T Super Knockout Tournament begins next Thursday

AFTER three weeks of pulsating action, the Waggy T Super Knockout Football Tournament goes up a notch with matches in the second round of the competition or the “Round of 16”, starting Thursday, November 22.

The National Queens Park Stadium has been bubbling, as thousands converged on the arena for the biggest football tournament across the OECS, which has already seen 49 goals in regulation time and 29 from the four penalty shoots, from the 14 matches contested.

The preliminaries came to a thrilling climax last week
Friday with impressive wins for St. George’s University (SGU)
Knights and Petro Caribe Queens Park Rangers.

The preliminaries came to a thrilling climax last week Friday with impressive wins for St. George’s University (SGU) Knights and Petro Caribe Queens Park Rangers. The University team, with plenty of vociferous supporters, beat City team Honved 2-0 with striker Trey Perkins grabbing a pair. He struck in the 19th and 65th minutes – the second a gem – a left-footer into the roof of the net from just outside the 18-yard on the right, which sent fans wild in jubilation.

River Road also erupted as Petro Caribe Queens Park Rangers thrashed neighbours Grand Mal 6-0. The much-anticipated St. George derby failed to live up to expectations, as Queens Park Rangers outpassed and outclassed their opponents. Striker Brain Andrew celebrated his birthday in style to spur Queens Rangers on with a hat-trick.


He struck in the 24th, 32th and 35th minutes. Further strikes by Kwasi Theodore in the 59th
and 72nd minutes and Marcus Etienne in the 77th minute, completed the rout.

Fans at Waggy T Super Knockout Tournament.

Large crowds have been converging on the arena for the preliminaries and many more are expected as the stakes for the EC$90 000 tournament get higher. Winners in the round of 16 receive EC$1 000, triumphant teams in the quarter-finals win EC$15 000, while successful teams in the semi-finals earn EC$2 000. The champion team walks away with an attractive EC$34 000, while the beaten finalist also takes home EC$19 400.

Several individual awards are also up for grabs with EC$500 being earmarked for the top goalkeeper, most outstanding youth player and the player scoring the most goals, who also get the “Golden Boots Award”. The round of 16 starts Thursday, November 22 from six o’clock in the evening with Real Men facing North Stars and Combine Northerners meeting Hard Rock. On Friday SGU Knights meet Hampshire in the opening game, while NEWIM GBSS face Fetter Boys in the other.

There is a big St. Mark’s derby on Saturday, November 24 when Youths take on rivals Sun Setters in the opening fixture from six o’clock in the event, while LIME Paradise tackle Fontenoy United two hours later. The round of 16 comes to an end on Sunday, November 25 with another double-header. Front Limers Ball Dogs take on Caribbean Colours Kings Cut Barber Shop Mt. Moritz in the opening game, while Petro Caribe Queens Park Rangers and Hurricanes clash in the other.