WHEN this year’s Kashif and Shanghai Football Tournament, the 23rd of its kind, continues tonight at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground with two more matches, the first of which kicks off at 18:30hrs, two more teams will make their exit from the tournament which can

be described as the ‘Holy Grail’ in the local football fraternity.
Two former champions, BK international Western Tigers and national club champions Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United, will match technical and tactical skills with Grove Hi-Tech and Rosignol United respectively in tonight’s fixture of the tournament which has at stake G$4M for the winners and a Toyota Allex motor car for the Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Apart from Linden’s Topp XX, who unfortunately are not participating in this year’s tournament, having won same on five occasions, no other team other than Milerock, Sunburst Camptown and Alpha have won the tournament twice.
With that in mind, there is no doubt within the minds of local football enthusiasts that the national club champions would be looking to land their third title in a tournament that has been growing from strength to strength, as the years go by – a fact that was declared by their coach Wayne ‘Wiggy’ Dover.
“Even though our preparation was not the way we wanted it to be due to the inclement weather which forced us to shift from the Guyana Sports Club ground to the National Park – a vast disadvantage due to space – we managed to get some work done.
This was difficult for us at times, based on the number of players who were attending the sessions but while there was not much practical work put in on offence, we maximised the use of the space, by doing some assimilation exercises on defence,” stated Dover.
The dreadlocked Dover, who has been nominated by former Technical Director of the Golden Jaguars, Jamaal Shabazz, to take over the reins of the Guyana national team, said his players are ready to go after their third title, while he was cognisant of the fact that his opponents for tonight’s game are no pushovers.
“It doesn’t make sense to me, that I sit here and express how confident we are, because while I know the entire squad is confident, much talking is normally done on the pitch by the players and having seen Rosignol United in a contest a few weeks ago against Pele, I have a fair idea of what they can and cannot do.
“Having said that, we will not be underestimating them as they are formidable opponents, something I knew, having faced them in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Super League but that will not stop us from going for our third title in this tournament this year,.” posited Dover.
However, one obstacle Dover will have to cross for this matchup is the absence of Howard Lowe, who is currently residing in the United States of America and his defensive buddy Charles ‘Lily’ Pollard.
“Yes we will be missing the services of Howard Lowe in the defence along with ‘Lily’ Pollard. We could have had ‘Lily’ here for the first game, but he played a game in Trinidad yesterday (Wednesday) and have another one today, but promised to be here for our next fixture,” said Dover.
That aside, Dover has at his disposal, the services of skipper of the Golden Jaguars, Christopher Nurse, who, along with Kayode McKinnon will marshal the midfield area, skipper Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams, Dwight Peters, Daniel Wilson and Grenada’s star striker Kithson Bain.
Who will start between the uprights for the North Georgetown-based Alpha lineup is another question Dover will have to ponder, as both Ronson Williams and Richie Richards are worthy customers in that position; but certainly, one will have to watch the other execute the duties tonight.
Dover’s City-based counterpart Calvin Allen, the coach of BK International Western Tigers, also expressed confidence in his team advancing to lift the title on New Year’s Day at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.
“We have been preparing for this tournament for the past four weeks or so at a high intensity, while we have been playing consistent football throughout the year against good quality teams so I know the level my team is playing at, at the moment and with such, we are looking to win this tournament.”
Allen will be looking to Warren Gilkes, the tried, tested and proven Devon Millington, Shawn Beveney, skipper Phillip Rowley, Ryan Adolph, Sherman David, the experienced Dwayne Ali and the team’s number one custodian Deryck Carter, to stop the challenges of the East Bank Demerara-based Grove Hi-Tech lineup.
BV/Triumph United, who defeated Timehri Panthers 3-1 in their first round matchup last Wednesday night, will face the winner of tonight’s matchup between Alpha and Rosignol United in the quarterfinal next Tuesday, with Buxton United taking on the winner of the BK International Western Tigers/ Grove Hi-Tech fixture on Boxing Day.
Apart from the top prize, the runners-up will collect G$1M, third-placers $750 000 and fourth-placers $500 000, with the Most Valuable Player of this year’s competition driving away with a Toyota Allex motor car, compliments of Edward B. Beharry Group of Companies, and the best coach will receive a motorcycle.
In addition to the above, each participating team received a complete set of playing uniforms while spectators who grace the various venues with their presence for this year’s tournament, have the opportunity to win one motorcycle, food hampers and other giveaways, compliments of the numerous sponsors of the tournament.
The final is billed for the Guyana National Stadium on New Year’s Day 2013, where Jamaica’s Reggae/Dancehall artiste Mavado is expected to thrill the crowd with his lyrics.