Mashramani Street Football Championship returns on February 1

The seventh annual Mashramani Street Football Championship is expected to kick off on February 1. Thirty teams will compete for the coveted top prize in one of the country’s premier ‘small goal’ football tournaments.

The event’s host, Sports Management Inc. (SMI), disclosed in a press release that they plan to host the 2025 version of the competition.

The organisation indicated that the preliminary rounds would be hosted in communities before the grand finals, which will be held on February 15 at the National Park.

“Last year, we hosted the event on one night, and many teams complained about being left out and allowed to win the title. We have come up with a way to address that this year, given the number of teams that want to play in the tournament,” the SMI release said.

“We will host three preliminary nights in Pouderoyen, Back Circle, and Mocha before the grand finals at the National Park on February 15.

The semi-finals, third place playoff, and finals will be held at the National Park,” the release informed.

Stabroek Ballers are the defending champions in the tournament that featured 16 of the top teams last year.

In 2022, SMI hosted perhaps the biggest street football contest in Guyana’s history. It was called the Magnum Mashramani Cup.

Following a hiatus in 2023, the event’s sixth edition returned to the annual ‘small goal’ calendar last year.

“This event brings the weight of six years of hosting and developing similar tournaments across the country,” the release continued.

The release thanked ANSA McAL Trading, MVP Sports, Nigel Hinds Financial Services, Cevons Waste Management, ENet, Corum Group, Fireside Grill and Chill, Star Rentals and the Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken for their continued support.