THE visiting Atlanta/Miami Masters Football team will engage their Georgetown (Guyana) counterparts this evening in a friendly international encounter as part of the Coca-Cola Masters Football Championships which is currently under way at the Thirst Park ground.

Both the US-based line-up and the Georgetown Masters team are made up of several former national players.

The former includes a few regional guest players from Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica.

The North America-based team will be spearheaded by Trevor `Lanyi’ Maxwell who is expected to get valuable support from the likes of Neil O’Choa, Keith London, Eon `Lashman’ Williams, Ricardo Straker, Roy and Roger Nichols and Trinidadian Michael Edwards.

The team’s manager is Paul `Buck’ Beresford.

The Georgetown All Stars combination includes former national captain and defence player Terrence Archer (captain), `Sir’ Anthony Stanton, Andrew `Flour’ Hazel, Linden `Metics’ Rawlins, Selwyn `Dutch Bailey, Nicky Thompson, Julian `Starry’ James and Ron Austin.

The opening game on tonight’s card will see Santos Masters tackle Carib Masters and an exciting game is anticipated.

Carib Masters will be spearheaded by their founder/coach Mikey Layne with assistance from former national defender Marlon DeSouza.

National goal-keeping coach Kevin Pearce will spearhead Santos’ attack.

Former youth national Shawn Nedd, along with Frank `English’ Parris, Ricky Salmon and Morgan Anthony among others, is expected to lend valuable support to the Santos’ quest of winning.

Carib Masters had defeated Twilight Masters 3-2 on the opening day of the tournament and this win was due mainly due to the efforts of Steve Joseph, Wayne St Jules and Octlive Graham who all found the back of Twilight’s net.

On the opening day also, Santos held the powerful Georgetown All Stars to a 2-2 stalemate, but Santos lost by default because they fielded an unregistered player.

Archer and Austin had scored for Georgetown All Stars, while Robin had tucked in a double for Santos.

On the second day of the tournament, Georgetown All Stars were again held to a draw, this time by Carib Masters. Archer scored for the All Stars team and Yuan Nafteux for the latter in the 1-1 drawn game.

That same day, Santos was held to a 2-2 draw by Thomas. Hawker and Seaton Rodney scored for the former.

The competition will continue on Saturday with four matches.

Over $500 000 in prize money and trophies are up for grabs in the tournament which is expected to conclude during the first week of next month.

The winning team will collect $200 000 while the second- to fourth-placed teams will receive $125 000, $75 000 and $40 000 respectively.

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