The hunt for $2M and bragging rights for a year starts tonight
… Western Tigers face Buxton Stars, Riddim Squad play Liquid Gold
AFTER months of preparation and weeks of heated public debate and controversy, the 21st edition of the Kashif and Shanghai Football tournament will officially kick off this evening at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) Ground with a double-header.
Defending champions BK International Western Tigers will have to show what they are worth, playing against Bakewell Buxton Stars in the second game, with Bartica’s Liquid Gold facing Riddim Squad in the night’s opener. On January 1, 2010, the Tigers began the New Year in style thanks to their star striker Devon Millington and defender Dwayne Ali who helped lift them over national club champions Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United in front of a capacity crowd at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.
However the tournament seems to have the public divided as it relates to choosing a team who will win, but tonight the BK International-sponsored West Ruimveldt-based Tigers will attempt to win the hearts of thousands again.
Their preparation for this year’s tournament was great, following their success in the recently-held Mackeson Stout/Digicel Sweet 16 tournament, along with their quarterfinal appearance in the soon-to-be concluded Fruta Conquerors/NAMILCO Football tournament.
They will commence their defence without their flashy national midfield player Shawn ‘Bubbly’ Beveney, who is currently wrapping up his professional season in Trinidad and Tobago with Caledonia AIA.
It was also reported from a source close to the defending champions, that Beveney who found the back of the net for his adopted club in T&T over the weekend, was willing to play for 2008/2009 champions Pele Football Club for free, while he asked the management of the defending champions for a stipend to represent his home club.
Millington is not around this year, since there were some factions in the club following the victory, but Ali is there again and is expected to lead from in front along with versatile striker Gavin Wilson, as they have been doing in the Sweet 16 tournament.
Added support will come from Nedd Fraser and Renault Fraser (no relations), Stellon David, Devon Moseley, Maxwell Pellew and Wendell St Hill, with the defence being marshalled by former captain Dellon Fraser, present captain Sherman David, Vashile Cantzlaar and Christopher Williams, with coach Kevin Pearce having to choose between Dexter Carter and Travis Bess to execute the duties of custodian.
Not much can be said about their opponents who hail from the East Coast team. What is certain is that they have never passed the first round of this tournament and according to word out of their camp, things are expected to change this year.
Meanwhile Riddim Squad, who are playing in their second tournament, are looking to get further than the second round this year, their opponents Liquid Gold will also be out to prove a point that, as a Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Super League team, it would be a plus for them to upset their opponents rather than have their opponents upset them since it would be a shame.
The Mocha Arcadia-based team got past Ann’s Grove last year at the Enmore Community Centre ground. Their youthful side showed some flashy display of football.
Little is known about these squads but football patrons can expect fireworks from all four tonight, given the fact they are all chasing after the golden $2M first prize and beautiful trophies that were on display last Sunday at the opening ceremony.