… Teams briefed on tournament regulations
TEAMS participating in the 22nd edition of the annual Kashif and Shanghai Football Tournament were yesterday briefed on the tournament’s regulations, before they each received a sum of $60 000 to assist with their preparation for the prestigious event. Larry Wills, Marketing Assistant of Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), through their brand Pepsi, one of the sponsors of this year’s tournament, outlined the special promotions which will be held throughout the tournament.
According to Wills, fans witnessing the game throughout the preliminary round will have the opportunity to compete in numerous promotions on and off the field of play, which will see them win several prizes including Pepsi products and free tickets for the finals.
He added that DDL is pleased to be associated with the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation in sponsoring this tournament and as such they are aligned with the longest football tournament in the history of the sport in Guyana.
He stated that his company is committed to the development of sports in Guyana and will continue to do so at all costs.
Co-Director of Kashif and Shanghai Organisation, Greg ‘Kashif’ Muhammad in his opening address to the teams congratulated them for being present at the team regulations briefing and assured them that they will be participating in a ‘prestige’ tournament in Guyana’s football.
Lamenting that although this year has been a bitter-sweet year for football in Guyana, following the suspension of several top executives within the Guyana Football Federation by FIFA, the success of the Golden Jaguars who qualified for the third round in the CONCACAF qualifying tournament for the 2014 World Cup was a bright spot.
He made mention that his organisation had, without a doubt, paved the way for the success of the Jags and outlined the initial experience of the operation.
The Kashif and Shanghai Organisation was instrumental in having Guyanese footballers play in the Trinidad and Tobago Pro League and as such has aided the developmental process in lifting the standard of our national football players.
He pointed out that former national captain Charles ‘Lily’ Pollard was a significant player, outstanding in that era in which he played in four of the top professional clubs in the professional league, and in each of the clubs he was able to demonstrate leadership in a high capacity, earning him the captain’s armband.
Emphasising the commitment and discipline shown to the success of players and clubs, he mentioned the Bakewell Topp XX FC entered the prestigious tournament as a young Under-18 club and won the tournament five times, creating history under the stewardship of coach Jimmy McLean.
Muhammad stressed that the tournament is guided by the laws of FIFA and the GFF and his organisation will not at any time disrespect the laws and he urged both the GFF and Alpha United to resolve all necessary matters at an early time so that football can be on the run again.
Two overseas clubs, Caribbean United from Barbados and AIA Caledonia FC of T&T, will do battle with local clubs, coming from New Amsterdam United, Rosignol United, Victoria Kings, Buxton Stars, BV/TUFC, BK Western Tigers, Pele, Seawall, Den Amstel, Mill Ballers, Kuru Kururu Warriors, Timehri Panthers, Grove Hi Tech, Amelia’s Ward, Winners Connection, Netrockers, Milerock and Bakewell Topp XX.
The opening ceremony will take place at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground on Saturday, December 10, following which Bartica’s Mill Ballers and Kuru Kururu Warriors will kick off the tournament at 18:0hrs, with the feature match taking place two hours later between Pele and Timehri Panthers.
The tournament will see a total close to $10M in cash and prizes distributed to the respective winners, with the first prize being $4M along with the Ansa McAl lien trophy and 26 replicas.
The Kashif and Shanghai tournament first got under way in 1990 and to date, Bakewell Topp XX have won the title on five different occasions, while Sunburst Camptown, Fruta Conquerors and Alpha United have done so twice.
Matches in this year’s tournament will be played at the Blairmont Community Centre in West Coast Berbice, BV Community Centre, GCC ground, Uitvlugt on the West Bank of Demerara, the Mackenzie Sports Club ground in Linden and the Guyana National Stadium.