Over 2M in Prizes for ‘Keep Your Five Alive’ Football Tournament

THE ninth (9th) edition of Keep Your Five Alive Football Tournament kicked off this month and will bring together 32 teams from across the country, each vying for glory and the ultimate prize of $950,000.

Organised by Kevin Adonis , the tournament , aptly named Keep Your Five Alive, was birthed due to Adonis’ experiences in his youth while living in Tiger Bay, Georgetown

He explained that “We used to play from the crack of dawn, until the final team got tired So, we literally played until we couldn’t anymore and that was the genesis of my tournament, several years later.”

Spectators were treated to an electrifying performance last Saturday, when the first match of the tournament began The competition’s co-ordinator Adonis, said that this first game set the stage for the remainder of the competition The matches are being held at the National Gymnasium in Georgetown

The games set for July are on the 8, 15 and 22 while those in August will be played on the 5th, 12th and 26th

When asked what persons can expect this year , Adonis said “ Every game is played like a final! You can expect lots of excitement, competitive football, family fun, giveaways and fan interactions.”

As part of the Keep Your Five Alive Committee’s dedication to ensuring fans have a good time, there will be many giveaways Adonis stated that “This year the concept is 9-5, since it’s our 9th year for Keep your Five Alive So, that’s why the top prize is $950,000! One lucky fan will also pay 95% less for a brand-new scooter , compliments of Rock Auto Trans on Charlotte Street, Georgetown Fans will also have a chance to engage in a half - time kick off competition , when persons who score a penalty will win $ 9500 immediately ! Plus , 5 GT beers will be sold for $950 at our games -- true to the 9-5 concept.”

He added that “This year we’re introducing a female tournament titled the MVP Sports Female Championship. Eight (8) female teams are in the competition this year and will be competing for the top prize of $200,000.” did today.”

“We played quality cricket from the start Obviously, we got the advantage of bowling first this time around but we’ve got to respect the cricket game.”

Opener Jatinder Singh (8) and captain Aqib Ilyas (1) both fell cheaply to leave Oman 29 for two in the seventh over before Ayaan Khan put on 30 for the third wicket with opener Prajapati and a further 36 for the fourth wicket with Mohammad Nadeem (20) to stablise the innings.

However, a cluster of wickets – three going down for 21 runs – left Oman stumbling at 116 for six in the 32nd over but Suraj and Shoaib bailed their side out in an excellent stand of 85 for the seventh wicket

The 34-year-old Suraj struck five fours and a six off 65 deliveries while Shoaib, 30, counted five fours and a six in a breezy 54-ball innings

Once Shoaib was run out at the non-striker’s end in the 47th, however, Oman lost impetus and there was no grand finish

In reply, Johnson Charles failed again with four – his fourth single digit score in his last five outings – when he was clean bowled by 32-year-old pacer Kaleemullah in the second over with just seven runs on the board.

But any hopes of a shock win were quickly squashed by King, the right-hander hitting 15 fours while putting on 80 for the second wicket with Keacy Carty (29), and 96 for the third with Hope who lashed four fours and two sixes

King , whose maiden ODI century came on last month’s tour of United Arab Emirates, strolled to his fifty off 47 deliveries in the 17th over before reaching triple figures in the 35th over off 102 balls

He unfortunately perished four balls later to a catch at the wicket but Hope put the finishing touches on the chase in a 39-run, unbroken fourth wicket stand with Nicholas Pooran (19 not out).

West Indies face Sri Lanka in their final game on Friday.

(Thursday July 06, 2023)