THE EAST Coast Demerara based Buxton United completed its dream run in this year’s Kashif and Shanghai Football Tournament, the 23rd edition of its kind on New Year’s Day by out gunning Amelia’s Ward United of Linden on penalties to clinch the winner’s trophy and the $4M first prize.

After both teams missed one of their first five attempts, the Buxtonian marks men coolly hit their target on the next two sudden death shots, while Amelia’s Ward nailed their first shot but Javin Crawford’s low strike hit the post to spark frenzied celebrations among Buxton’s players and their fans at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.
In attendance were Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Minister of Sport Dr. Frank Anthony along with Minister within the Ministry of Finance Bishop Juan Edghill, who all met the finalists before the kick off, and while local singing sensation Lisa Punch sang the National Anthem.
After Crawford missed the G$4M shot, some of the 3000 or so patrons ran onto the field to congratulate their heroes who etched their name on the champion’s trophy for the first time in the history of the long standing tournament.
Some of the Amelia’s Ward United’s players sat dejectedly after the heart breaking loss, but pocketing the $1M second place prize and reaching the finals, should perhaps appease their anguish.
The wildly entertaining match had finished nil-nil with extra time after both teams’ defences and custodians were brilliant at their tasks.
Buxton’s victory capped a remarkable spell for the East Coast side which played in their first final in any tournament and to cap things off, their captain and national forward, Dwain Jacobs was also adjudged the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, driving away with a Toyota Allex, compliments of Beharry Automotive Limited as an incentive.
The coach of the tournament, who will win a motorcycle, was not announced but Buxton’s coach, Herbert McPherson, is probably the top candidate to ride off with the prize, having coached his side to two upset victories, before they culminated the tournament with the top prize.
On the road to the finals, Buxton United trounced Winners Connection 3-1 while they sent away 2009/2010 champions, BK International Western Tigers and the country’s number one team Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United by 1-0 margin in both their quarterfinal and semifinal encounters.
Meanwhile, in the third place playoff, Alpha, a two-time winner of the tournament, defeated Pele the 2008/2009 winner and four times second place finisher 3-1 to take the $750,000 third prize.
A double by the tournament’s leading goal scorer, Dwight Peters and a solitary strike from Alpha’s guest player, Grenada’s star forward, Kithson Bain, completed their team’s victory, while Pele’s lone goal was scored off the boot of their diminutive striker, Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson.
Peters scored seven goals in the tournament, inclusive of a hattrick and two doubles, while Richardson scored six goals in the tournament for Pele who were forced to settle for the fourth place prize of $500,000.