EDWARD B. Beharry and Company Limited yesterday brought an age-old dream to life for the organisers of the Kashif and Shanghai football tournament, when they handed over a brand new Toyota Allex motor car which will be presented to the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 23rd edition of the competition.

The manufacturer and distributor of the Chico Sweets brand is also the sole sponsor of the inaugural Kashif and Shanghai Under-13 Inter-School Championship and, together with the cost of the car, the company’s sponsorship totals approximately $8M.
“It’s something that we have been dreaming about for years and we’re happy to know that the Beharry Group of Companies could’ve done this for us,” declared Kashif Mohammad, co-Director of the organisation upon seeing the make of the vehicle for the first time. Apart from committing to sponsor the car, the Group kept the type/make a secret until yesterday.
It also marked the first time in the Caribbean, a player of any sport will be rewarded with a car for his/her outstanding individual performance.
According to Mohammad “I can’t remember in my 50 years of existence in the Caribbean, that an MVP for any sport has ever gotten a car as a prize. It happens in International cricket and this is for the series and we are extremely grateful for this company coming on board and we would love for this to be duplicated”.
Chairman of the Company, Edward Anand Beharry, said while they have heavily supported the tournament before as well as sports in general, a presentation of such magnitude is being undertaken for the very first time.
“We take great pride in doing this with this tournament and with football in Guyana,” said Beharry.
He added, “We have come together with the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation and we have Beharry Automotive Limited and we’re going to be donating in full a car.”
The sponsorship according to the Company’s Chairman, shows its “commitment to football in Guyana, the seriousness about being involved with football in Guyana and the importance that football can play in our country; the importance it can play with our youths and adult population”.
“Sport is the one thing that unites the people in any country. Cricket does it, football in Europe does it, baseball and American football do it in the USA.
“In Guyana we have motor racing, football and cricket. Those are the things that unite us and we want to be part of it and it’s time football takes it rightful place in our country and it’s time we show the world what we as a country are made of and what we as a company can do without external help,” Beharry stated.
The Kashif and Shanghai Football Tournament, Beharry pointed out, has over the past 23 years grown to become Guyana’s premier sporting event, hence making their affiliation easy for the past six years since they want to be associated with a name that has substance in Guyana’s sporting arena.
Making timely donation and contributing towards the development of sports in the country, Beharry said, is seen as a corporate obligation, citing that “What we don’t do is toot our own horns very often. We do an awful lot but we try not to depend on any heavy publicity because these are the youths of our country and it’s our corporate duty to do these things, irrespective of what the outside countries think of us”.
A special panel will be set up to overlook the individual performances in the tournament, with Mohammad stating that “normally the MVP comes from the winning team but this year we want to look at everyone, giving them a fair chance of driving away with the car. I know they all would want to do so but it’s only one car”.
The tournament kicks off on Sunday December 16 at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground with a double-header following the customary opening ceremony.
Amelia’s Ward United of Linden and Mill Ballers from Bartica will be the first encounter followed by last year’s finalists Pele who will go up against Buxton Stars.
G$4M is up for grabs in the win-or-go-home formatted tournament while each playing night, a lucky fan will ride away with a brand new motorcycle. The action will culminate on New Year’s Day (January 1, 2013) at the Guyana National Stadium with an after-football concert featuring Jamaica’s reggae/dancehall artiste Mavado.