AS PREPARATIONS within the engine room heat up for this year’s 23rd annual Kashif and Shanghai Football tournament, several business entities within Corporate Guyana has seen it conducive enough to maintain their partnership with the tournament, as they have done over the years.

Yesterday, the New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation (GPC) became the latest entity to throw its financial support behind this year’s tournament, when its Marketing Manager, Trevor Bassoo, presented the dynamic duo with a cheque for G$1M at its Farm, East Bank Demerara head office.
Prior to making the presentation, Bassoo said the New GPC was impressed with the way the tournament has been organised over the years.
“We believe that the Kashif and Shanghai Tournament has been delivering quality and good entertainment to the Guyanese people over the years. The competition itself has forced the players to elevate themselves and become competitive, hence the promotion of Guyanese football and taking the players to a more appreciative level,” stated Bassoo.
He said his Company had no hesitation in throwing its support and commitment towards this year’s tournament as it has done for the past six years, with this year’s sponsorship being divided into three parts.
According to Bassoo, $750 000 of that sum would be used as the cash prize for the third place while the remaining $250 000 would go towards the printing of programmes and paying for television and newspapers advertisements.
In his thank-you remarks, Greg ‘Kashif’ Muhammad who, along with Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major formed the dynamic organisation and started hosting the tournament 23 years ago, said he was happy that New GPC has remained committed with the tournament over the years.
“We are very satisfied and have the confidence in the business community over the years that they will help us to make this tournament a successful one. Today we are happy that the New GPC has provided the prize for the third place team of this year’s tournament and we are very grateful for their partnership with us.”
The tournament kicks off on Sunday, December 16, and will see 16 of the country’s top teams battling for a top prize of $4M and a trophy, while the Most Valuable Player of this year’s tournament and the winning coach will walk away with one motor car and a motorcycle respectively.
The names of all 16 teams to compete in this year’s tournament will be released tomorrow. They will receive a complete uniform kit, while Jamaican reggae/dancehall artiste Mavado is expected to headline the after-the-finals concert on New Year’s Day at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.
Recently, Auto Fashion of Craig Street, Campbellville handed over the motor bike to the organisers, while Edward B. Beharry Automotive Centre will present the motor car for this year’s MVP to the dynamic duo tomorrow.
As an added incentive for this year’s tournament, an Under-13 championship for clubs within Georgetown will be played simultaneously with the Open tournament at the Georgetown Football Club ground and the sponsorship for that is being taken care of by Edward B. Beharry Automotive Centre, who will also hand over the cheque tomorrow.