Latest update November 15th, 2024 1:00 AM
Kashif and Shanghai/Alpha matter settled as club will play in 21st Edition
Odinga Lumumba
– K&S Directors hold fruitful meeting with President Jagdeo
The matter which boiled into a public spat between the Alpha United Football Club President Odinga Lumumba and the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation has been settled amicable among the parties following the meeting of representatives of several clubs and the Guyana Football Federation.
The Alpha boss had demanded that the prize money be raised and the preparation fee given to teams be also increased, citing the amount of sponsorship the organisers receives as the reason for them to increase the prizes and other inducements.
K&S had this year increased the prize money to $2M in cash and a kit sponsorship of $5M. Lumumba had asked several questions of the kit package and had said his team will not play if the prize money had not been raised to $4M. The K&S organisation had acted on his remarks and booted the team out of the tournament.
However, the GFF eventually indicated via letter that Alpha was the number one team and should play in the tournament which attracts the best teams in the country along with top class overseas opposition. Director Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major had indicated that while they saw the demands as unfair based on the arguments being put forward and was set on leaving Alpha out of the reckoning, they would abide by the GFF ruling but noted that the currently increased prize money would not go up at this time.
In a release the K&S organisation stated: “The Kashif and Shanghai Organisation would like to inform the general public that
Kashif Muhammad
following mediation talks with the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) all the teams who were originally selected for the 21st edition of the tournament have indicated in writing that they will be participating.
The Kashif and Shanghai Organisation would also like to inform that the prize monies remain the same. First place $2,000,000; second place $1,000,000; third place $500,000 and fourth place $250,000. Trophies and medals will also be awarded to the top four teams.”
“One of the issues that were discussed by the GFF and the K&S Organisation related to the appearance fees which have been increased from the original $50,000 to $120,000. Clubs will receive $60,000 before the tournament with the remainder to be collected at the tournament presentation. This formula for payments of the appearance fee have been agreed to by the clubs.”
“The kick off date for the tournament remains the same and will kick off on December 12 at the Providence National Stadium. The Golden Jaguars will face Atletico Roraima in the feature game of the double header with an Upper Demerara Under-23 selection taking on the National Under-20 team.”
And Alpha FC President Odinga Lumumba indicated that they have accepted the directive sent by the GFF on November 29 and will compete in the tournament. Their decision hinges on the increased packages that top teams will receive based on the guarantees given by the K&S organisation and the GFF.
Lumumba informed that with the cash and kind value for the winner at $7M this is acceptable and in line with his original demands.
Meanwhile, the K&S Directors have met with His Excellency President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday in what has been described as very fruitful meeting.
Aubrey 'Shanghai' Major
Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major confirmed the meeting and disclosed that the President has made an even bigger commitment and is on board fully with the tournament, while not divulging details. President Jagdeo has always been a big supporter of the event since he was Finance Minister. This is a big plus for the 21st Edition as the country’s leader throws his unrelenting support behind Guyana’s biggest football tournament.
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