By Michael DaSilva
SOME persons refer to them as masters while others call them veterans. Call them whatever, Guyana’s former football stars will be on show beginning tomorrow afternoon when the Banks DIH Limited-sponsored Coca-Cola Masters Football Tournament gets under way at the Thirst Park ground with four matches.

The feature game in the Twilight Masters Club-organised tournament will see former national youth player Patrice Ram spearhead Western Tigers’ attack against the Rastafari Patriarchs who will be led by former senior national striker Vibert `Dordy’ Butts who is expected to get valuable support from former nationals Terrence `Turkey’ Burnette, Neville `Natty’ Wiltshire, Shawn `Cappy’ Jacobs, Terrence `Dot.com’ Plummer and Aubrey `Turkey’ Adams along with other former youth national Allan `Abdalla’ La Rose.

The opening game from 15:00 h brings together Pele Masters, who finished runners-up in the Banks DIH-sponsored International Masters tournament last October, and Carib Masters.

Pele, once coached by former national coach Lennox Arthur, will be led by former nationals Terrence `Suzuki’ Nichols, Clive Perry, who was voted best midfield player in last October’s tournament, club president Cary Jacques (best goalkeeper in 2007 masters tournament), Rawle `Overseas’ Jones and former national youth player Dennis `Chow’ Hunte, while Carib Masters will be spearheaded by its founder and coach, the nippy Michael Layne with assistance expected from former national defence player Marlon DeSouza. Both were former national players.

The following game in the nine-team competition brings together Georgetown Football Club, last year’s Plate winners and Santos.

GFC will be led by former nationals Adrian `The Ballerina’ Forde on the strike line with support from Phillip Carrington in the goal along with Peter Lashley, Gary `Bubbler’ Nelson, David Best and Wayne `Splicer’ Williams, while national goalkeeper Kevin Pearce will spearhead Santos’ attack.

Former national youth player Shawn Nedd along with Frank `English’ Parris, Ricky Salmon and Morgan Anthony are expected to lend valuable support.

Thomas United and GT All-Stars will do battle in the penultimate game.

The former will be led by their coach Earl O’Neal, a former national captain, with support from Michael Pierre, another former national player, Orin `Shortman’ Agard, a former member of the national team as well as a former member of the GT Cobras, Kevin Walcott and Brian `Postman’ Thompson.

GT All-Stars will be spearheaded by former national captain and Republic Banks manager Terrence Archer who will be marshalling the defence with support coming from `Sir’ Anthony Stanton, Andrew `Flour’ Hazel, Linden `Metics’ Rawlins, Selwyn `Dutch’ Bailey, Nicky Thompson, Julian `Starry;’ James and Ron Austin among others.

The competition will continue at the same venue on Tuesday with a double-header.

GFC is billed to tackle Carib Masters and Twilight Masters are down to play Thomas on Tuesday.

Over $500 000 in prize monies along with trophies and other incentives are up for grabs in the tournament which is scheduled to conclude the first week of next month.

The winning team will receive $200 000 while the other top three teams will collect $125 000, $75 000 and $40 000 respectively.

The highest goalscorer as well as the Most Valuable Player of the tournament will each receive a tropjhy and a pair of football boots while the best goalkeeper will receive a trophy and a pair of goal-keeping gloves.