PLATINUM sponsor Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) yesterday continued their support for the Kashif and Shanghai Organization annual football festival now in its 22nd year, by injecting $22m into same. GT&T’s Chief Executive Officer Yog Mahadeo made the presentation to co-directors of the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation, Greg ‘Kashif’ Muhammad and Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major, noting that his company remains committed to the development of football and sports in general in Guyana.
Mahadeo said the tournament has become a household name in Guyana and as such, GT&T is pleased to partner with the organizers for the 15th successive year, while describing Muhammad and Major as friends of GT&T whom he says recognizes the hard work being down by the duo to ensure football stays alive in Guyana.
According to Mahadeo, the tournament has evolved tremendously over the years to a stage where “all the games are sold out and people climb on each other to be at the venue.”
He  went on to state that the annual year-end competition has added value to Guyana’s sports calendar and took the opportunity to announce that GT&T has made tremendous investments in football this year, making specific reference to the initial hosting of their innovative FastBall concept.
Speaking on behalf of the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation, Muhammad thanked GT&T for its support for the past decade and a half.
Muhammad said his organisation and the company have shared a working relationship over those years, and apart from the financial contributions, they have been able to meet and discuss ways and means of enhancing the profile of the tournament which kicks off on Saturday at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground.
Meanwhile, the first prize which is being sponsored by Aruwai Enterprise Incorporated is one pound of gold worth $4m, while the runner-up team will receive $1,000,000 and the third and fourth placed finishers $500,000 and $300,000 respectively.
The Most Valuable Player of the 20 team tournament will receive a motor-cycle and while defending champions Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United will not be battling the other teams for supremacy, two foreign teams in Caribbean United from Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago’s Caledonia AIA will be competing.
The 20 competing teams are Caribbean United, Caledonia AIA, Pele, Western Tigers, Topp XX, Milerock, Netrockers, Amelia’s Ward United, Winners Connection, BV/Triumph, Victoria Kings, Buxton Stars, Den Amstel, Seawall United, New Amsterdam United, Rosignol United, Mill Ballers, Timehri Panthers, Kuru Kururu Warriors, and Grove Hi-Tec.
Preliminary matches will be played at the Georgetown Football Club, Uitvlugt, Mackenzie Sports Club, Blairmont, and BV grounds respectively, while the semi-finals and final will take place at the National Stadium, Providence.