BK Western Tigers Super 8 …
TRUE to his word at a press conference one day after claiming the 21st edition of the Kashif and Shanghai Football tournament, president of the national club champions Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United has withdrawn his team from the BK International Western Tigers Football Club Super 8 tournament that is set to kick off this Sunday at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground. On Sunday January 2, Lumumba at a press conference held at the Waterchris Hotel, publicly stated, “Our victory totally emphasised Alpha’s dominance of Guyana’s football for the past five years and this was a testament of all that I went through before a ball was kicked in this tournament, with the victory paying off.
But let me say this with no apologies, we will not be playing any tournament where the first prize is G$1M or less, so they (K&S) have 11 months to up the stakes or find a replacement team.”
Having also stated that he was good friends with organiser of the annual Mayor’s Cup Lennox Braithwaite, Lumumba reiterated that he would not be playing that tourney this year and certainly kept that word when by withdrawing from the BK Western Tigers tournament.
“We are committed to the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) National League even though the first prize is nowhere near G$1M, as we are the national champions, but when it comes to other privately organised tournaments such as the Mayor’s Cup and even the K&S tournament, we will not be playing if the prize money is not right,” stated Lumumba.
According to secretary of the organising club Dexter Cush, the team’s withdrawal came as a surprise, since Lumumba had given him his word that he will participate in the tournament, when he got the letter on Wednesday.
“While their withdrawal is not much of a big blow, it came as a surprise, since the club’s president had given me his word that he would play. Added to that, some of the other clubs wanted to see what they were made of minus their guest players who carried them to the Kashif and Shanghai title.”
But like the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation who had replaced Guyana’s number one club in their tourney before an intervention by the GFF, BK Western Tigers went ahead and named GFC as the replacement club for their tournament which has a first prize of $500 000 and a trophy.
“The show must go on with or without Alpha. We cannot sit idly by and not play the tournament. The GFF has given us a green light with regard to our playing days, which do not interrupt any tournament, and we are looking to complete the tournament which is being used as a fund-raising activity for the club,” stated Cush.
While efforts to contact Lumumba proved futile (he is out of the country), Chronicle Sport spoke with coach Wayne ‘Wiggy’ Dover who said he had no idea why the president pulled the club from the tournament.
“I have no idea why the president made that decision and he is not in Guyana at the moment. I just got word that we will not be competing in the tournament, by the secretary, for what reason or reasons I don’t know and I am not at liberty to say if the president is sticking to his word.
I don’t know if the usual break that is taken at this time of the year is being enforced as well, as no football is being played around this time and the club normally takes the month off to recuperate for the season,” said Dover.
When told of payment issue may have been a criterion for the team being withdrawn, Dover who is also head coach of Guyana’s national football team known as the ‘Golden Jaguars’, quickly refuted same.
“Contrary to reports that players were not paid, I wish to refute that statement as the players are paid on a monthly basis and whenever we compete in any tournament and win same, the prize money is divided accordingly.”
The Super 8 tournament swings into action this Sunday with two matches at the GFC ground, the lone venue for same, with Fruta Conquerors taking on Riddim Squad from 18:00 h, while Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and Sunburst Camptown will do battle from 20:00 h.
The second-, third- and fourth-placed teams will pocket $200 000, $100 000 and $50 000 respectively, while the teams who place second and third will also walk away with trophies. The Highest Goalscorer and Most Valuable Player will also be rewarded.
Some of the sponsors include Cummings Electrical, BK International, Keishar’s Gift Shoppe, Exclusive Boutique, Ansa McAl, Star Party Rentals and King’s Jewellery World.