… Ann’s Grove  named  replacement team
FANS, who throng football venues to see the nation’s top team Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United compete, would be saddened to know that they will not be a part of the 21st Edition of the Kashif and Shanghai Football Festival which is set to kick off at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, on Sunday December 12.
Addressing the concerns of the president of Alpha United Odinga Lumumba, who publicly withdrew his team from the tournament, director of the K&S Organisation Greg ‘Kashif’ Muhammad at a press briefing at their Irving Street office yesterday, said both his organisation and the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) have accepted the top club’s position to withdraw.
“The announcement by Odinga Lumumba, president of Alpha United Club last Monday on the Supligen Sports Desk programme that the aforementioned club will not participate in the 21st annual K&S tournament has been accepted by the K&S Organisation,” said Muhammad.
Alpha, who won the 2007-2008 tournament, when they defeated the most decorated K&S team Topp XX in the final before losing to BK International Western Tigers in the 2009-2010 finals at the Guyana National Stadium, will now be replaced by Ann’s Grove.
“The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has been notified of Alpha’s withdrawal and of their replacement, Ann’s Grove, which they accepted, since Ann’s Grove was the club nominated to replace any team who for reasons unknown withdrew from the tournament,” stated Muhammad.
Muhammad also made it clear that no other team that was originally invited to the tournament has, or as far as he is aware, declined the invitation, a statement echoed by co-director Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major and to an extent, the defending champions BK International Western Tigers’ president Gordon Gilhuys.
When quizzed on his Organisation’s position, should Alpha decide to rejoin the tournament before the opening date, since they did not submit a written notice of withdrawal, both Muhammad and his co-director Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major said their decision was final.
“This is final. Their withdrawal from the tournament has been accepted and there is no back door acceptance. Added to that, we will have a Directors’ meeting, where the position of Alpha United and future Kashif and Shanghai tournaments will be seriously addressed.”
Muhammad further notified the media present at the briefing that his organisation had a friendly and cordial meeting with Prime Minister Samuel Hinds yesterday, with the second top Government Official welcoming the return of the annual event.
“The K&S Organisation wishes to announce that today (yesterday) its directors met with the Prime Minister Samuel Hinds in a cordial and friendly manner, where Prime Minister Hinds welcomed the return of the annual event and committed himself to be present at the opening ceremony, while promising to donate the Fair Play trophy.”
Contrary to Alpha’s arguments for an increase in the prize money that is up for grabs, Muhammad opted to give a detailed explanation of the prizes including cash and kind that will be distributed to the top four teams and the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
The victorious team in this year’s tournament will walk away with the Gordon Trotz/Dale Bascom lien trophy, Ansa McAl take-home trophy, 26 gold replicas, $2M (compliments of Ansa McAl) and a two-year kit sponsorship to the value of $5M, a total value of $7M, minus trophies and replicas.
The second-placed team will collect the GT&T trophy, 26 silver medals, $1M (compliments of GT&T) and a one-year kit sponsorship valued $2M, a total of $3M, minus trophy and medals.
The third-placed team will receive 26 bronze medals, $500 000 and one set of uniforms sponsored by Dr Colin Watson, a total value of $700 000 excluding trophy and medals, with the fourth-placed finisher receiving a trophy, $250 000 and 10 footballs.
The Most Valuable Player (MVP) will receive one motorcycle from Beck’s Trading and one set of sporting equipment valued US$1 500 while the K&S Organisation will be issuing each team to reach the quarterfinals $50 000.
According to Muhammad, a few years ago, the GFF mandated the K&S Organisation to give cash and kind to the winning team and that’s a trend they have been following since.
“The kit sponsorship we are talking about for the first- and second-placed teams as well as the MVP of the tournament involves playing gear, balls, training and playing footwear, casual wear prior to the game, bags, track suits and caps just to name a few.
We have been working on this deal for last year’s tournament but were unable to land it in time for such. However, it’s here now and we are grateful for Plus One’s contribution to the K&S Organisation and Guyana’s football at large,” said Muhammad.
With the revised fixtures, Ann’s Grove will oppose Fruta Conquerors at the Enmore Community Centre ground on December 17 from 18:00 h.