Pele needle Milerock, Bakewell Topp XX survive against Rusal

Dec 16, 2008 Sports

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By Franklin Wilson
As the pundits have forecasted, the 19th Kashif and Shanghai Football tournament will not be a walk in the park for the top rated teams and the opening night proved just that.

Pele, who before now did not have an encouraging record playing at the MSC ground, finally broke the jinx with a hard fought 1-0 win over old nemesis Milerock in the feature clash of the opening double header.

The opening game salvo saw five-time champions and eight-time finalist’s Bakewell Topp XX having to stave off the robust challenge of fellow Linden side Rusal to win in the final minute of added on time.

Doing the trick for the Bakewell boys in a very tough battle with Rusal were two of their Trinidad and Tobago based stars, Carey Harris and Captain, Kayode McKinnon.

As Rusal did promise they were coming to play hard football and that they did and can count themselves a bit unlucky not to have hit the network more than the solitary strike but again, it was the valiant efforts of goalkeeper, Richard ‘Loddo’ Reynolds that kept out their best efforts.

Watched by a crowd which ranks as one of the best ever on the opening day of Kashif and Shanghai football, Rusal sounded a very early warning to Topp XX that they would not be intimidated by the presence of their four overseas players in Collie Hercules, Harris, McKinnon and Reynolds.

They indeed enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges and shots on goal against a timid looking five-time champions who appeared a bit ring rusty. But as the game progressed, Topp XX began to assert themselves, however Rusal were up to the task of matching them play for play.

Neither team were able to break the scoring deadlock in the first 45 minutes. Reynolds played a major part in thwarting Rusal’s efforts on goal.

Supporters were understandably becoming uneasy as the minutes matured with the pressure levels gradually rising.

But relief was soon in sight, at least for Topp XX’s supporters. Sixteen minutes into the second half, Harris eased the pressure when he banged a shot past the outstretched arms of Dion Jordon.

Even with lead going away from them, Rusal continued to press forward and received just reward nine minutes after trailing when former national player Travis Waterton pounded his shot past Reynolds.

The final 20 minutes of regulation time proved to be barren minutes for both teams and with the signal by the fourth official that three minutes of injury (added on) time was all that was left in the game, fans perhaps had already bargained in their minds for extra time and perhaps penalty kicks in the extreme.

But McKinnon, who plays with Neal and Massey Caledonia AIA in the T&T Pro League, had other ideas. In the final minute of injury time a scorching right foot shot from McKinnon found its way past Jordon as leather connected with nets.

It was a thrilling moment not just for the players but the adrenalin among the fans skyrocketed, sensing that victory was almost sealed. Seconds later, Referee Roy McArthur blew the final whistle and one could have felt the utter disappointment for the Rusal players and a sense of relief and joy for the winners.

Topp XX will now face the winner of the Mahaica Determinators/K Brans Sports Club of T&T clash in their quarter-final game set for Boxing Day at the same venue.

The feature clash was also a pulsating affair and as was expected, a tight fight in one instance to maintain dominance and on the other hand to prove that on the day, the better team will take top honours.

City side Pele, not boasting a healthy record at the MSC over the years were out to change that while the home team Milerock, two-time champs who also reached the finals four times, were seeking to add another win to their record but that was never to be.

Pele’s Captain Dirk Archer closed out an exciting evening where the captains on both victorious teams led from the front.

Archer headed home in the 31st minute from a well executed cross by T&T (Caledonia AIA) based midfielder, Konata Manning. That was effectively the sealer for Pele who will meet the winner of the Alpha/Cougars game in their quarter-final game on Christmas Day at the National Stadium, Providence.

Following the first game, a colourful and well attended march past of the teams preceded the official opening ceremony which was attended by Acting President Samuel Hinds, Minister of Culture Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony and CEO of Linmine Horace James.

While complimenting the teams for their collective efforts in making the march past an impressive event, PM Hinds reminded the gathering that the tournament started out as a Linden tournament but is now a Guyanese tournament. Hinds also noted that Mashramani also started out in linden but they (Linden) have also given Mash to Guyana.

Dr. Anthony in his feature remarks classified the K&S tournament as being that rock that has kept football together during the years that it has been in existence. He also stated that the tournament presents opportunities for players to display their talent in seeking to play for their country.

“This tournament indeed has been able to identify many players who have gone abroad and represented themselves and their country well, and for that we would like to thank the organisers of this wonderful tournament. Because of this tournament, so much development has happened for footballers but we cannot stop there.”

Minister Anthony stated that if we need to produce more players of a high quality much more needs to be done.

“The Football Federation would have to step up to the plate and help to deliver quality programmes. Football cannot only have one major tournament at the end of the year, we have to have tournaments at all age groups whether it is at the school level or beyond that, we have to have people playing at all levels and when we are able to build that continuum then well see a higher level at this national level.”

More coaching programmes and tournaments the Minister said is needed at the community levels and in schools and highlighted his Ministry’s programme in the communities at the grass roots level noting that the support has been overwhelming.

He challenged other organisations to team up with the Ministry of Sport to ensure that every community in Guyana experiences this kind of football.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that people in Guyana and across communities, love football. What we need to do is provide them with more opportunities to play and I think we need other organisations to emulate what Kashif and Shanghai has been doing for the past 19 years.” Kashif Muhammad, GFF Treasurer Aubrey Henry and Linmine’s CEO Horace James also spoke at the opening.

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