Football fever is set to grip the Upper East Bank Demerara (EBD) as the 2025 edition of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Upper EBD Inter-Village 7-a-side Knockout Football Tournament kicks off this weekend. With over $1.7 million in prize money up for grabs, anticipation is running high among local teams and fans alike.
The action will unfold at the President Youth Choice Ground in Kuru Kururu, Linden-Soesdyke Highway, starting with a grand march-past of the participating villages on Saturday, June 14, from 10:00 a.m. Defending champions Kuru Kururu A will enjoy home advantage this year, but they face stiff competition as rival villages prepare to challenge for the coveted top prize of $700,000.
Second place will secure $500,000, third place $300,000, and the team finishing fourth will receive $200,000. In addition to team prizes, the tournament will also reward the top three individual players for their outstanding performances.
Some of the region’s best footballers will represent their villages, with the rules allowing for up to three non-village players per team. However, many teams are relying on homegrown talent, expressing confidence in their chances to claim the big prize.
Villages already confirmed for the tournament include Kuru Kururu A and B, Laluni, Herstelling, Soesdyke, Mocha, Eccles, Swan, Waiakabra, Airport Ballers from Timehri, and Spaniards from Diamond. The competition promises intense matchups and vibrant community spirit as teams battle for supremacy along the Upper EBD corridor.
As the countdown to kickoff continues, excitement is building for what is expected to be one of the most thrilling sporting events in the region this year.
