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Alpha United versus Bakewell Slingerz; a promoter’s dream
“We’re happy to have the Mayweather and Pacquiao of local football in the final” Muhammad
“To have Alpha United and Bakewell Slingerz, two of the biggest clubs in the country play in the final
Kashif Muhammad
of your tournament, is a promoter’s dream” said Co-Director of Kashif Muhammad.
The two ‘Big Money’ teams will collide in tonight’s final of the Kashif and Shanghai Football Tournament at the Guyana National Stadium where the winner will pocket $2M and the loser $1M.
“I think that this could probably be the biggest team versus team in our finals being that they are the two top teams” Muhammad said at a Press Conference yesterday.
This year marks 25 years for the Kashif and Shanghai tournament and Muhammad said that by the standards the two have set, tonight’s finale will be an unforgettable one.
According to Muhammad, who along with Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major are responsible for the tournament, every year since 1990 there are always two outstanding teams in the country and every year they’ve been able to have them pitted against each other.
“The difference is, these two teams have taken football to a next level in terms of the investment being made. The owners of these teams put millions of dollars into them, trying to make them better, getting the better players and making them understand that this is their job.”
“The whole football structure right now for these two clubs is of a next level and we’re happy to know that we can have these particular two teams in the country in the final and it is not by no cakewalk for them, they had to fight and play hard to reach the final,” Muhammad said.
However, the long time football promoter believes that should some other clubs get the financial backing and corporate support like the two finalists, football will be more competitive.
Muhammad listed the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) as institutions that can have a solid football structure since their players are already employees of state, while foundation clubs like Fruta Conquerors and Pele if given the adequate funding, football in Guyana would be better off.
“The Slingerz and Alpha United players and staff have in excess of over 30 players each being paid on a monthly basis and we’re talking handsome salaries because I don’t think anyone gets a minimum wage and I think it’s an excellent model to follow,” Muhammad noted.
He added, “We’re happy to have the (Floyd) Mayweather and (Manny) Pacquiao of local football in the final, it doesn’t get bigger than this and anyone would want to see them play and play in the final, but I think that there’s much more than the money at stake here. These guys got something for each other and I’m glad they can settle it in our tournament.”
Asked who the Mayweather is and who is the Pacquiao between the two, Muhammad held his tongue, only stating, “I have my favourite, but I wouldn’t say”. The battle promises to be grand.
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