19th Annual Kashif and Shanghai F/ball tourney

THE Pele Football Club and its members won the most accolades in the just concluded 19th Annual Kashif and Shanghai (K&S) football tournament.

Apart from winning the $1M first prize and trophy, the team shared the Best Defensive Team award with Sunburst Camptown whom they defeated 1-0 in the final on New Year’s night at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, in front of a more than capacity crowd (exceeding 15 000).

So huge was the crowd that the single Banks DIH bar that was set up, could not handle the patrons, causing quite a few to express disgust at what was happening.

However, prior to that final, Pele had reached two others over the years but were never successful in winning.

The team’s central defender, Charles `Lily’ Pollard, who plays for Trinidad and Tobago Caledonia AIA, won three individual awards. He was adjudged the Most Valuable Player of the tournament as well as of the finals and he also won the Most Outstanding Defender award.

Team captain Dirk Archer, son of former national captain and defence player Terrence Archer, won the Most Outstanding Midfielder award, while custodian Shemroy Arthur won the Most Outstanding Goalkeeper award.

Team coach Denzil `Hunky Brains’ Thompson was adjudged Best Coach while striker Lyndon Simmons was adjudged the Most Improved Player.

Alpha United who won the tournament in 2007/08, won the Best Offensive Team award as well as the Fair Play award which they shared with Fruta Conquerors.

Alpha United were eliminated from the tournament in the quarter-final round, having suffered a 1-3 defeat at the hands of Pele, but this did not prevent their in-form player Elton Browne from winning the Highest Goal Scorer award for the six goals he scored, five in the team’s 10-1 mauling of Cougars in a first-round fixture and the other against Pele.

Camptown’s Lance Rolston won the Most Spectacular Goal award, while eight-time finalists and five-time champions Bakewell Topp XX’s Kayode McKinnon was adjudged the Most Disciplined Player.

Forty-seven goals were scored during the tournament, with Symmonds recording the fastest one (first minute) which was against Alpha.

One goal was scored in added on time while three were scored in extra time and of the seven penalties awarded, two were saved and one missed.

Match referees issued 48 cautions and six expulsions.

Topp XX’s Collie Hercules received the first caution of the tournament (6th minute) and this was when they opposed Rusal in the opening game of the tournament.

During this game, six yellow cards were issued.

Of the six expulsions during the tournament, three took place in the Guyana Defence Force versus Bakewell Buxton Stars encounter.