HE promised that should they win the Kashif and Shanghai Football tournament, he would give them $400 000 and yesterday, president of the Alpha United Football Club, Odinga Lumumba, delivered on that pledge.

At a simple ceremony at the Water Chris Hotel Restaurant, the players of Buxton United all gathered to collect their cash which, when added to the $600 000 worth of donation Lumumba had made prior to the finals, totalled $1M.
Ironically, Lumumba who hails from the East Coast village, saw his team Alpha United, falling 1-0 to Buxton in the semi-finals of the just concluded Kashif and Shanghai Football tournament.
Even though Alpha finished third in the competition after upsetting Pele 3-1, the loss to Buxton was hailed as the biggest upset of the tournament this year, given the quality of the Alpha United players, and also since it was the first time that Buxton have ever reached the semi-finals of any competition.
Lumumba said that Buxton United, minnows in the competition last year, winning the tournament is “good for football, it’s good for the village, it’s good for the underdogs … it says that anybody once they make the commitment, they can be successful.
“Like I said at the game, that if Alpha United win, they will have $1M and then someone said to me that what if Buxton win? And I said to them that if Buxton win, I’ll give them the same $1M. I’ve given $600 000 in gear so far and today (yesterday) I’m honouring my other half of the commitment by handing over $400 000 to the players.”
Coach of the team Herbert McPherson said that this team is full of gratitude for the gesture made by Lumumba and they are also happy that their efforts were recognised and the players were rewarded for sacrifices they’ve made towards participating in the competition.
Looking ahead, McPherson said that his club will now focus on Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Super League where they are hoping to have the same fortune.
Buxton United became the second East Coast team to lift the Kashif and Shanghai Trophy after Victoria Kings defeated Net Rockers in 2001.
The village of Buxton is hosting a special presentation ceremony tomorrow at the Buxton Community Centre, where the team will receive their winning purse of $4M while the tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP) Dwayne Jacobs will also be driving his brand new Toyota Allex.