Says Rawle Toney
FOOTBALL is considered ‘the’ most popular sport in the world, but in Guyana it competes with Cricket; the game considered being that of the Caribbean. But 22 years ago, two men changed the look of the game  and came up  with what would be called the biggest football tournament in the entire Caribbean – the Kashif and Shanghai football tournament – the brain child of Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major and Kashif Mohammad.
December 26, 1990 at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground in Linden, Milerock Football Club (FC) became the winners of what is now the premier sporting event in Guyana and 22 years later, the same team is still chasing their second title.
In 1990, the first price was a meagre $4,000 and this year, the winner is set to pocket $4M, second place $1M, third place $500,000 and fourth $300,000.
The event is set to kick off this Saturday at the once world famous Georgetown Cricket Club ground Bourda (GCC).
But while this year’s competition is by far the most lucrative ever, not only in Guyana, but around the region as well, it is my view that the notable omission of Alpha United, Fruta Conquerors, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and Sunburst Camptown has left the gate wide open for the taking.
Known as the ‘Hammers’, Alpha United who first played in the championships in 2005 and reached the finals only to be defeated by Bakewell Topp XX, have moved on to become the defending champions and were also the winners  in 2007.
Camptown, have also won the tournament twice (1993 & 2003) and have reached the finals in 2008 when they were overpowered by Pele.
Fruta Conquerors only have one lien on the championship trophy; beating Western Tigers in 2002 and only reached the finals once before in 1999 and went down to Bakewell Topp XX.
The teams will be missed because of the fan base and excitement they have brought to the tournament since the organizers have allowed teams from outside of Linden to participate in 1993.
Even though they are yet to even make it to the finals of the tournament, GDF is always labeled a tough challenger and contender for the title. They have caused many memorable upsets and their passionate fans with the drums and horns would most notably be missed.
A legal dispute between the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) has caused the organizers to not allow the teams to partake in what is by far the biggest payday for football in the region.
So attractive is this year’s event, that it has caught the eyes of Trinidad and Tobago Pro-League top club Neal and Massay, Caledonia AIA and Caribbean United of Barbados – two sides both hungry to devour the US$20,000 first prize tournament.
Jamaal Shabbazz, Caledonia AIA head coach and  who ironically led Guyana’s National team to their historic run recently in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers had long been knocking on the doors of the organizers to invite his side to the prestigious tournament.
The Trinidadian team has been the home to several of Guyana’s premier players for a number of years and also the first place many local footballers have been able to get a taste of a playing professionally.
However, there’s some hope for the likes of National keepers Ronson Williams and Richard Reynolds, forwards Vurlon Mills, Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams, Dwain Jacobs and Dwight Peters and many other high profile players from the teams who are not a part of this year’s Kashif and Shanghai football tournament.
Just like the previous years, each team will be allowed four guest players since no transfer would be given during that period.
Teams hunt after the best players both local and overseas to strengthen their chances of winning the event but it would be amusing to see how some may go about fishing for these players.
The missing clubs are a gift more than a curse because now, Bartica’s Mill Ballers, Timehri Panthers, Kuru Kuru Warriors and Dem Amstel, whom I would consider as under-dogs, will have a chance to not only be seen as participating teams but as serious contenders, the like of Pele, Topp XX and Western Tigers just to name a few.
Mill Ballers will face off with Kuru Kuru Lions at 18:30 hrs on the opening day while 2008 winners Pele and Timehri Panthers will collide in the second game at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground.