A $500,000 individual prize has been added to the attraction of this year’s Kashif and Shanghai Football Tournament, with long-time supporter Monty Lewis stepping forward to reward the player who finishes as the competition’s leading goal scorer.
The gesture by Lewis adds another incentive for players to find the back of the net when the prestigious 16-team tournament kicks off on December 13 at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground in Linden.
At a simple ceremony attended by tournament co-founders Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major and Kashif Muhammad, Lewis, a consistent supporter of the tournament over the years, congratulated the organisers for their bold decision to return the competition to its roots in Linden and encouraged others to come on board and support the initiative.
Both Muhammad and Major expressed their appreciation to Lewis for his continued support, noting that the gesture would provide additional motivation for the participating players and teams to perform at their highest level.
His contribution comes as organisers prepare for what is expected to be a highly competitive return of the tournament to the mining town, with some of Guyana’s leading First Division clubs set to battle for a share of the lucrative $8 million prize purse.
The tournament will run from December 13, 2026, to January 1, 2027, and will be staged exclusively in Linden, with matches shared between the redesigned Mackenzie Sports Club and the Bayroc National Stadium.
The opening match-day on December 13 will be played at Mackenzie Sports Club, returning the tournament to the venue where it was first staged in 1992. The ground will also host matches on December 20, 25 and 29.
Bayroc National Stadium will host matches on December 18, 22 and 26 before taking centre stage for the grand final on New Year’s Day.
The return to Linden was officially announced at the tournament’s launch last weekend under the theme, “Destination Linden, Football Means Business.”
Beyond the football, organisers and government officials have pointed to the potential economic impact of the tournament, with players, supporters, officials and visitors expected to boost activity for hotels, AirBnB operators, restaurants, transportation providers, vendors and other businesses.
Meanwhile, the competing teams, fixtures, tournament draw and breakdown of the $8 million purse will be unveiled on Saturday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
