IN the Biblical story David versus Goliath, the much underrated David chose five stones from a lake to take on the big-mouthed Philistine.
When New Amsterdam United Football Club, who can be described as David, face Trinidad and Tobago’s Caledonia AIA, who can be called Goliath, in their Christmas Day matchup in this year’s Kashif and Shanghai Football tournament at the Blairmont Community Centre ground, they will be doing so with a special stone.
That stone is no other than the United States-based Quincy Small.
Small, a midfield forward has been playing football in the USA for the past four years, representing Fellicen College and Globe Institute of Technology in the NCAA Division II and is expected to be a pillar for the Ancient County-based team who seek to advance to the second round.
The club has had significant history in the Kashif and Shanghai Football tournament which is now in its 22nd year, since it has been introduced to the Berbice area.
They were the first team from Berbice to compete in the tournament and while some others have done so and faded away into oblivion, they have matured throughout the years to be the top club, winning all the major tournaments organised by the Berbice Football Association.
For the past three years, they have competed in the K&S tournament alongside Rosignol United, but found it difficult to get past the first hurdle. They, however, feel that the addition of Small to their ranks, they will achieve success this year.
According to their coach Lennox Adams, Small, along with the Adams brothers, Adrian and Renaldo, Colin Bowry and Rondel Hazel should see the club, which won the Cheddi and Janet Jagan Memorial knockout tournament for the past three years, get past the Trinidadians.
They have also added the BFA-organised Banks DIH Limited’s Coca Cola League titles to their growing list of accolades for the past four years.
“Small will boost the team’s performance, since they have won all the major tournaments in Berbice for the past four years in his absence.
“He (Small) led us to our first BFA Coca Cola League title, which saw us qualify for our first Kashif and Shanghai tournament three years ago, but he migrated to further his education in the USA.”
Adams stated, “When told about our upcoming clash against a giant lineup in Caledonia AIA who is being coached by Technical Director of the Guyana Football Federation Jamal Shabazz, Small readily made himself available to represent us, saying that his academic years is behind him for now and football is on the front burner.
“It will be a great opportunity not only for Small, but also Shabazz who will be having a firsthand view at Berbice’s number one club but first and foremost on our minds is getting past Shabazz and his team and going into the second round for the first time.”
The tournament will kick off next Saturday, following the opening ceremony at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground, wherein Mill Ballers from Bartica will oppose Kuru Kururu Warriors in the first game followed by the feature clash between former champions Pele Football Club and newcomers Timehri Panthers.
At stake in this year’s tournament is a magnificent first prize of one pound of gold worth $G4M, compliments of Aruwai Enterprise Limited, along with the Ansa McAl Limited lien trophy and 24 replicas.
The second-, third- and fourth-placed teams will pocket $1M, $500 000 and $300 000 respectively, while the tournament’s Most Valuable Player will ride away with one motorcycle and the highest goalscorer will collect a prize that is yet to be disclosed.