A 35TH MINUTE strike from Carey Harris was all it took for the Kashif and Shanghai All-Stars to get past Atletico Roraima FC of Brazil last Sunday evening at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, as the 2010/11 Kashif and Shanghai Football tournament got on the way.
The game was played in honour of former national striker and captain Collie ‘Hitman’ Hercules and defender Charles ‘Lilly’ Pollard who have both retired from international football. Both players suited up for the clash and rubbed shoulders on the pitch with the likes of Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson, Howard Lowe, Kayode ‘Magic-man’ McKinnon, Nigel ‘Powers’ Codrington and Walter Moore, just to name a few.
They were also reunited with former Technical Director of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Jamaal Shabazz for the first time on the field of play since 2008, as he brought his tenure to an end when Guyana failed to make it past the second round of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers that year.
In a match filled with lots of flair and controversy, the scores of people that turned out at the national stadium were treated to some quality football from both sides.
Upon arriving in Guyana, the Brazilians via the local media said that they are here to entertain and from kick-off, they did just that, showing off some fancy footwork and ball-controlling skills.
However, the Guyanese showed that they too can showboat, with midfield player Travis ‘Zorro’ Grant, sending the crowd into frenzy with his on-point passes and dribble, as well as Richardson who refused to be left out of the action.
The striker (Richardson) would often bring the crowd to their feet with his style of play and teaming up with his old Golden Jaguars teammate Hercules, they often troubled the sturdy Brazilian team’s defence.
Hercules showed why he was unarguably one of the best strikers in the Caribbean and rolled back the years when he collected a pass from Richardson at the top of the 18-yard box on his chest while standing between two defenders and placed a solid right-footed volley that was well taken by the Atletico Roraima keeper.
A thunderous roar came from the crowd as a means of appreciation with one patron saying “he still got it in him”.
At the other end of the pitch, national custodian Ronson Williams was forced to pull off some defying saves as the Brazilian’s strikers piled on the pressure.
The solid back line of the All-Stars in ‘twin towers’ – Lowe and Pollard – along with Harris and Walter Moore controlling the right and left wings respectively, meant the visitors had to work extra hard if they had intentions of scoring.
Things took a turn in the 35th minute when Dwain Jacobs collected a pass from Richardson and sent a lob in for a lurking Hercules and Harris, but the referee’s assistant (linesman) raised the flag signalling that the two players were in an offside position.
Harris beat the advancing custodian when he flicked the ball over his head and even though the flag was up, referee Stanley ‘Shabba’ Lancaster acknowledged the goal and gave the Guyanese the lead, amidst numerous objections from the opposition.
At least three Brazilian players were yellow-carded after they advanced to the referee in protest of the goal which brought the game to a halt for a few minutes, as it was clear the players were offside at the time of the goal and the crowd, in solidarity of the visitors, booed the referee.
However, the Kashif and Shanghai All-Stars had other close chances when Hercules slipped in-between two defenders again from a ball in the 18-yard box from Richardson that was well saved.
Hercules set up Codrington with a beautiful pass that was finished with a flat and hard shot that was also well taken by Aletico Roraima’s custodian who performed exceedingly well for his side.
The first half came to an entertaining end and while the second period saw the exchange of Richardson, Hercules and Pollard for Shawn Bishop, Devon Millington and Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams and wasn’t as exciting.
Kashif and Shanghai All-Stars controlled the second half with the Brazilian team having very few chances, in which Williams pulled off some daring saves to deny them.
Upon the conclusion of the game, the visitors were handed medals while the winning Kashif and Shanghai All-Stars received the winning trophy and replicas.