Latest update April 11th, 2025 9:20 AM
Kashif and Shanghai combat begins today at MSC ground
Bakewell Topp XX play Rusal, Pele engage Milerock
Kashif Muhammad (left) and Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major
By Franklin Wilson
The battle lines are already drawn and when the referees whistle sounds at 17:30hrs this evening at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground in the Bauxite Mining Town of Linden, it will be the start of rivalry in the 19th Kashif and Shanghai Football Tournament.
Nineteen years on the trot is no mean feat and very few of our local organisers can boast that they have survived that long in any event, readily coming to mind is National Cycling Coach Hassan Mohammed and his ‘Teach Them Young’ Cycling Programme which is held at the National Park.
But this is a different ball game where fifteen of the best teams on local soil and one from neighboring Trinidad and Tobago will be seeking to win the top prize of One Million dollars compliments of President Bharrat Jagdeo.
Today’s start will be the first of eight days of what is expected to be pulsating rivalry since teams are well aware that it’s a knock-out tournament so there is no room for complacency of any sort.
Given the honour of setting the tone for the rest of the competition are Bakewell Topp XX, Rusal, Pele and Milerock.
Five-time champs Bakewell Topp XX will be aiming to start on the right footing when they oppose fellow Linden side Rusal.
Topp XX, have made it to the final on eight (8) occasions, four more times than any other team and just seems to have the knack for the K&S tournament. They will not be taking Rusal lightly but are hoping to cross this first hurdle as they ease into full competitive mode.
Rusal, while not competing in the Upper Demerara first-division competition are backing themselves to play tough ball against the darlings of Linden. They will have to come very good against the likes of Collie ‘Hitman’ Hercules, Kayode ‘Kayo’ McKinnon, Carey Harris and Richard Reynolds in goal, the four loan players for the Bakewell boys whose presence for this evening’s game is touch and go.
Leading the charge for Rusal, aiming to make it beyond the group of 16 round for the first time, will be former national defender Travis Waterton, a member of Amelia’s Ward United. Waterton will be one of the four loan players in the line up apart from Santos’ Glenorvan Edmonds.
Tonight’s feature showdown is expected to be a ripper with four-time finalist’s and two-time champions Milerock of Linden making a grand return after 7 years against city side Pele who made it to the finals twice but lost on both occasions.
Strange enough, it was Milerock who defeated them (Pele) in the last final they reached 10 years ago (1997/98).
It will be a clash of youth (Milerock) against experience (Pele) but the home team is very much aware that the visitors do not boast an encouraging record at the MSC, but who knows, perhaps that will change but only after tonight’s match-up we will know for sure.
Two of their (Milerock) loan players in Randolph ‘Blackhead’ Jerome (T&T based) and Nieve Dennis (St Lucia based) will not feature tonight, while defenders Marlon Maxius (T&T Super League) and former GDF player Dwayne Fraser will shore up the regular players, among them, Steve Brewley, Trevor Tudor and Deon Grandison.
Pele, on the other hand will also be without the services of loan players, National Captain and central defender Charles ‘Lily’ Pollard and Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson, both based in T&T.
Dirk Archer will be at the helm and will find able support in ‘Golden Jaguar’ Konata Manning, Travis ‘Zorro’ Grant, Gerald Whittington, Shemroy Arthur (goalie), Devon Edinboro and Keoma Gravesande among others. Fans are in for exhilarating action.
After the first match, the march past of the teams and the official opening will take place, acting President Samuel Hinds along with the Honorable Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony are expected to be in attendance.
CEO of Linmine Horace James, Guyana Football Federation General Secretary Noel Adonis and Executive Director of K&S, Kashif Muhammad are also expected to feature during the opening.
The K&S train will move to the East Coast of Demerara on Wednesday where two more teams will walk the plank.
Lethem, sponsored exclusively by the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport will open against two-time champions and three-time finalists Fruta Conquerors at 18:30hrs, the feature game bringing together first timers Determinators of East Coast and Trinidad and Tobago’s K. Brans Sports Club.
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