FOLLOWING the unfit state of the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) ground, the organising committee within the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation has pushed back the semifinal fixtures in their Chico Elite Next Generation Schools Tournament for tomorrow at the Georgetown Football Club ground.The semifinal lineup will have two-time Digicel nationwide Inter-secondary school champions Wismar/Christianburg Secondary oppose St George’s and Waramadong Secondary go up against a confident Ash Education Institute lineup, with the winners meeting in the final on New Year’s Day at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, for a first-place prize of a record $1.2M.

Wismar/Christianburg’s march to the final four started with a penalty-kicks victory over New Silvercity Secondary, before they demolished Ann’s Grove 5-2 in their quarterfinal fixture at the Buxton Community Centre ground last Friday.
Shane Luckie has been the top marksman, hitting a hattrick in their latest win, while receiving support from Ezra Ashby and Rolex John. St. George’s path to tomorrow’s fixture started with victories over East Ruimveldt and Mackenzie Secondary Schools.
St George’s are the Petra/Milo Schools Football Under-20 champions and even though the K&S/Chico Elite Next Generation Schools Tournament is in its inaugural year, they have made an impact especially with their quarterfinal win over Mackenzie High.
Adolph George, Robby McCloggan, Jermaine Scott, Neil Cameron and Petra/Milo Most Valuable Player (MVP) Royston Dublin, who doubles as a striker and custodian when needs be, have al churned out creditable performances for the city-based lineup, cutting out Wismar/Christianburg’s work.
Say the word Waramadong around any football venue during the playing of the Digicel and even the K&S/Chico tournament and football pundits would say without hesitation, ‘That team bad, bai’.
Their skipper and custodian Gerald Isaacs, Whazir Bascombe, Myles Albert, Leandro Francis, Henton Browne and top marksman to date Lyndel Joseph, have all churned out creditable performances for their team.
In fact, it is Joseph who has scored all four of the team’s goals to date- who sent them ahead on both occasions in their hard-fought and tense contests against both North Georgetown and Charlestown.
However, Isaacs turned up trumps in the penalty kicks against the latter team, when he saved shots from Charlestown’s Marvin Prince, following which he buried his kick to the far post, sparking off celebrations.
If the pundits are right, then Waramadong are heading for a rematch for the second time this year and third time in two years, with Wismar/Christianburg Secondary, the team who defeated them twice in the Digicel Schools tournament over the past two years.
But Ash Education Institute are a team who fight hard for what they want and with players the calibre of Lester Cummings, Atlin Browne, Neil Munroe, Jason Johashen, Akeemo Watts and Brian Thom all showing impeccable form in their last two matches, Waramadong will need to turn up with their ‘A’ game or face elimination.
Ash trumped President’s College 13-0 in their round of 16 encounter and blanked Annandale 3-0 in their quarterfinal matchup 48 hours later, with Browne, Cummings and Munroe being their top marksmen and, judging from their performances in both matches, football fans are in for a treat when they face Waramadong, a team who will be matching them stride for stride in technique and skill.
Meanwhile, Guyana’s middle and long distance queen Alika Morgan became the latest sponsor to the tournament when she handed over two trophies which will go to the Best Midfielder and Best Goalkeeper.
This follows her gesture to the Guyana Red Cross Society Children’s Convalescent Home last Sunday, when she brought Christmas joy to the hearts of the 30 children housed there.
At a simple ceremony held at the K&S Organisation’s Irving Street-based office, Morgan, who was accompanied by her manager/coach Leslie Black, handed over the two trophies to director of K&S Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major.
In an invited comment with Chronicle Sport, Morgan said she was pleased to be associated with the K&S tournament, adding that she felt good making the contribution of the two trophies, knowing very well that the winners are young and enthusiastic sports person like herself.
In accepting the trophies on behalf of his Organisation while welcoming her on board, Major thanked Morgan for the kind gesture adding that it will definitely served to inspire the players from the four semifinals.
Written By Calvin Roberts