25th K&S football semi-finals set for tonight at DCC … Slingerz vs Riddim Squad, Pele vs Alpha United
Dexroy Adams and Devon Millington
Dexroy Adams and Devon Millington

IT STARTED with 16 teams but after six nights of intense and heartbreaking football action, it has boiled down to the final-four teams contesting the 25th Kashif and Shanghai football tournament with the aim of cashing in on the $2M first place prize. However, many are called but few are chosen they say and tonight at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground, many questions will be answered including who will advance to play on Sunday April 5 at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

Tonight in the first semi-final from 18:30hrs ‘West Side’ champions Bakewell Slingerz will play Riddim Squad and the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship-bound Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United are set to collide with Pele at 20:20hrs.
As predicted by pundits prior to the start of the tournament, Bakewell Slingerz, one the tournament favourites, have inched closer to the prestigious trophy but standing in their way are Riddim Squad – a side not many expected to make it this far.
However, utilising their four guest players ruling wisely, the team from Mocha Arcadia seem ready to challenge the Vergenoegen giants.
An unbeaten track record in the West Demerara Football Federation (WDFA) thanks to having some of the best players that money can buy, Bakewell Slingerz, by all means, are one of the country’s biggest clubs.
Some projected a Bakewell Slingerz/Alpha United final which could pack the National Stadium on Easter Sunday but both Pele and Riddim Squad can respectfully be spoilers.
Vurlon Mills, Colin Nelson, Joshua Brown, King Solomon Austin, Clive Nobrega, Dwayne Lawrence, Dwain Jacobs and Akel Clarke are fresh off representing the Golden Jaguars in their International Friendly against St Lucia and Grenada and are all also key contributing factors in the club’s success in the Kashif and Shanghai tournament so far.
Along with Tichard Joseph, Devon Millington and Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams – players who have spent considerable amount of time on the National Team – Slingerz will look to advance in an attempt to pick up their second trophy for the year – Mayor’s Cup being their first.
The Bakewell-sponsored team defeated Victoria Kings (2-1) and Fruta Conquerors (2-1) to book their place in the semi-finals while Riddim Squad took out New Amsterdam United (2-0) and Western Tigers (4-1 penalty kicks) to make their way into the ‘money’.
Meanwhile, having won the tournament in 2009, Pele are by no means pushovers for the ‘Hammers’, who also edged them (Pele) 3-2 in the 2010 Final. But tonight, it’s another chance at redemption.
Behind captain Konata Manning, Pele downed Grove Hi-Tech (2-0) and came from behind to oust Linden’s Winners Connection (3-1) to set up tonight’s clash against the Nation’s top club.
One would argue that Alpha United are yet to meet an opposition to really threaten their super team, having won 2-0 against Agricola Red Triangle and 5-0 against the Georgetown Football Club (GFC), making the Pele contest one that coach Wayne ‘Wiggy’ Dover would want his men to be more than ready for.
Sheldon Holder, Gregory Richardson, Manasseh Primo, Chris Camacho and goalkeeper Ronson Williams are among the players who have so far kept Dover’s men with a clean sheet in the tournament.
Set to host a leg of the CFU tournament from April 15 at the Guyana National Stadium, Dover said that the Kashif and Shanghai tournament will present his men with the right preparation as they seek to once again qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League.

By Rawle Toney

 

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