IT was once considered the ‘Holy Grail’ of Guyana’s football. Thousands would pack venues around the country to support their respective teams but, over time, things changed with the Kashif and Shanghai (K&S) football tournament. For the first time in its 25 years history, the Kashif and Shanghai Tournament will be played outside of the ‘Christmas season’ as it kicks off tonight at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground with a double-header.

Sixteen teams will vie for the winners’ purse of $2M, second place $1M, third $750 000 and fourth place $250 000 along with trophies and other incentives.
Riddim Squad and New Amsterdam United will play the tournament’s first game at 18:30hrs, after which, the planned gala opening ceremony will take place.
Remarks from sponsors and representatives of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Normalisation Committee will be followed by the tournament overview by co-Director Kashif Muhammad and the feature address by Minister of Sport Dr Frank Anthony.
The evening’s final match will see the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) play Den Amstel.
Muhammad said that his organisation is anticipating an exciting and successful tournament and one that will have lasting memory on not only the players, but the scores of fans expected nightly.
Apart from the opening ceremony today, the DCC ground will host matches on March 25, 27 and 28.
The likes of George Yarde, George Hyles, Clive ‘Woolley’ Forde, Orin Cumberbatch and Colin Beveney, all of whom were standout players for Guyana in the early 1970s, are just some of the big names who thrilled the masses that would have converged on the DCC ground when football used to be played at the venue.