THE Kashif and Shanghai football tournament, one of the most a popular sport events on the calendar of activities for December, has gained the full patronage of President Bharrat Jagdeo. Kashif Mohammed and Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major, the two organisers of the event, met President Jagdeo yesterday for discussions on the 2010 tournament and were granted several of the requests which they made to the Head of State.
Satisfied, Kashif and Shanghai told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that the discussions were cordial and the Head of State promised to be present at the finals.
The tournament will kick off on December 12 and run for a period of ten days, featuring intense competitions at the Guyana Football Club and community centre grounds at Uitvlugt, Enmore, Blairmont, and Linden, and at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence.
Among the new highlights will be Athletico Roraima, a Brazilian team that will be premiering against Guyana’s National team (President’s Eleven).
Activities are also scheduled to heat up with a concert featuring Jamaican Artistes Jah Cure and Konshens and R&B Singer Ashanti. Another concert is also planned and will feature a popular artiste still to be named.
Earlier, the two promoters met Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee to iron out security arrangements for the tournament.
During the meeting, the organisers disclosed that as part of their contribution to national safety, they have decided on a slogan for games entitled “Stop the Crime, it’s Football time”, with the hope of sending a positive message to the public.

Security talks will also be held with Police Commissioner Henry Greene and other assistant commissioners, as well the divisional commanders for the various areas in which matches will be played.
Last year, the Kashif and Shanghai tournament celebrated its 20th anniversary and was graced with the presence of Edison Arantes do Nascimento, popularly known as ‘King’ Pele.          
While in Guyana, Pele, an all-time leading scorer of Brazil’s national football team, paid a courtesy call on several officials in the Government and was joined by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and Minister of Culture Youth and Sport at the opening ceremony.
He later received the honours as the new Kashif and Shanghai football king. (GINA)