Paiwomak Warriors, Snatchers are Tabatinga FC Year End champs

Jan 04, 2018 Sports, https://www.kaieteurnewsonline...-fc-year-end-champs/

Paiwomak Warriors FC and Snatchers FC captured the male and female titles respectively when the Tabatinga FC Year End Showdown football tournament concluded on January 1 at Lethem Community Centre ground.

In an exciting male final, Paiwomak Warriors came from one goal down to beat Guyana Rush Saints 2-1 in extra time in front of a large crowd. David Coates put Guyana Rush Saints ahead when he found the back of the net in the 19th minute. His team managed to hold on to the lead for much of the contest, but just as it seems that Coates goal will prove to be the deciding factor in the exciting duel, Shawn Browne drew Paiwomak Warriors level in the 82nd minute. The remaining minutes of regulation time couldn’t separate the teams and 30 minutes were added. Both teams made courageous efforts, but with two minutes remaining Marcus Paravan netted to hand Paiwomak Warriors the crown.
Snatchers FC defeated favourites Gladiators FC 3-0 in the female final which was contested earlier. Snatchers FC went ahead in the 14th minute when they were awarded a penalty for a hand-ball inside the box and Joan LaRose made no mistake from the spot as her team went to the break with a 1-0 advantage.
Sara Nascimento stretched the lead in the 52nd minute before netting her double in the second minute of added time to give their fans much to shout about.
Meanwhile, The Rupununi Football Association (RFA) Champions league will commence in February with 17 teams. The tournament will be played in both male and female categories and the RFA is appealing to corporate Guyana for support. Transportation and monetary prizes are usually challenging; Clubs have to pay over $60,000 to travel from Annai or Aishalton to play in Lethem, likewise clubs in Lethem going to play there.
The RFA welcomes any support which will benefit the young talents in the Rupununi. However, the GFF has done some amount of work in terms of creating opportunities for trials and training of referees and coaches for which the RFA is thankful.
Speaking with Kaieteur Sport, Secretary of the RFA Colin Henry wished the fans, players and coaches a successful 2018 and thanked the clubs for participating. He congratulated the winners and Tabatinga FC for hosting the tournament and hope it will be an annual affair. He said that they will be happy if the Government of Guyana can assist the RFA with transportation so that clubs will not be under much pressure.