NEW K&S CHAMPS TO BE CROWNED TONIGHT @ STADIUM

Jan 01, 2009 Sports

Pele aiming for 1st, Sunburst Camptown gunning 3rd title

Troy Mendonca

Denzil Thompson

By Franklin Wilson
The battle for the 2008/09 Kashif and Shanghai Football Championship is set for tonight at the National Stadium, rain or shine, between Pele, chasing their first title and Sunburst Camptown, going after their third.
This game features the best two teams emerging form this 19th edition of the tournament which kicked off on December 14 with 16 teams in contention. It’s now down to the battle for the top prize of one million dollars (cash & kind) and will be the perfect climax.
Pele, who reached back to back finals (96/97 & 97/98) has never lifted this prestigious trophy and are fancying their chances this time around.
In booking their place in tonight’s final, Pele destroyed defending champions Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United 3-1 at the quarter-final stage, Guyana Defence Force (3-0) in the semi-final, their first win was by a 1-0 margin against Upper Demerara’s Milerock who they lost to in the 97/98 final.
In the attacking third their quest for the elusive crown will be led by Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson, who has shown his class with 4 goals in two matches to date. He will be assisted by Gerald Wittington, Captain Dirk Archer, Travis ‘Zorro’ Grant, Keoma Gravesande, Lyndon Simmons, Konata Manning, goalkeeper Shemroy Arthur and National captain Charles ‘Lilly’ Pollard, who will marshal the defence.
Coach Denzil Thompson when asked for a comment on the focus of the team in these closing hours to game time, said team spirit is high and his charges are focused on the task at hand.
“We are mentally ready and victory tonight will conclude six weeks of intense preparations which saw the guys undergoing technical, tactical, physical and psychological preparations.”
Thompson, who celebrated his 29th year as a coach on December 19 last, disclosed that the level of training the team was exposed to entailed lots of endurance and pool work and fans can expect a good brand of South American football.
“We are not underestimating or condemning Camptown, in fact we expect them to play very well also but I think the team with the best attitude will come out victorious.”
Thompson, a former national goalkeeper (1975 1980) believes that a major strength for his team is the fact that they are a united bunch and do not depend on one person. A weak area he pointed out could be players making technical errors during a game situation but outside of that he is confident that his unit is as tuff as any other team.

Gregory Richardson

Nigel Codrington

His opposite number, Troy Mendonca, who is also a former national defensive player (1992 1994), is also certain that his players are well prepared generally and paying attention to the job at hand this evening.
“We are in high spirits and are eager to jump this final hurdle successfully. As a team we are cognizant of the quality of the opposition but we are coming to play sensible football. We play modern football and the players understand their role and work very hard at their game.”
Mendonca, who took over the job of head coach at Camptown in January of 2008, at a time when the club was going through a bad patch, has seen great improvement with consistent results during the year.
He is no stranger to Kashif and Shanghai glory having won the tournament as a player the first year it was played (1990 1991) with Milerock and then again with Camptown in 1993 1994, the first time they won.
This time as a coach, he will be relying on the likes of Nigel ‘Powers’ Codrington, captain and central defender Orlando ‘Cracker’ Gilgeous, veteran midfielder Troy ‘Bugs’ Prescod, Devon Dummett, Kester Alleyne, Telson McKinnon, Mervin Joseph and 17 year-old custodian Richie Richards who has a clean record to date in the tournament to take them to victory.
“I know we stand a very good chance of taking the top spot and we are eagerly awaiting tonight’s clash.”
The third place play off which kicks off at 18:30hrs features the losing semi-finalists, GDF and Bakewell Topp XX.
An after football show will climax the evening’s programme and the 19th K&S tournament, Jamaican DJ and artiste Tony Matheron the main attraction. Guyana’s Fojo and Brutal Jammers will also be performing.

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