Teams in high end phase of preparations for 20th K&S

Dec 04, 2009 Sports

---

Debutants Grove, Riddim Squad, New Amsterdam & Rosignol can spring surprises

By Franklin Wilson
With the 20th Kashif and Shanghai just a matter of days away from kick off, 9 days to be exact, the invited teams are all in the high end phase of their preparations and are expected to wind down based on their first playing day.
In the case of defending champions Pele, they will start easing down early in the new week and are expected to be in tip top shape by the end of the week in time for their feature opening game against Santos on the opening night at the Guyana National Stadium, next Sunday, December 13.
The opening game on that card brings together the first team to ever win the tournament, Milerock who defeated fellow Linden side Eagles United in the inaugural tournament, December 1990/January 1, 1991 against first timers Grove Hi Tec of the East Bank Football Association.
Along with Grove Hi Tec, the other first timers this year are Riddim Squad of the Georgetown Football Association, Rosignol United and New Amsterdam United of the Berbice Football Association.
New Amsterdam United and Rosignol have been doing well in eth Ancient County competitions with the former dominating the Banks DIH Coca Cola division-one league for the past two years. The Berbice teams have had a history of faltering at the first hurdle in the Kashif and Shanghai but from all reports, they are out to improve on those stats.
They have proven that they possess the talent to beat city opposition but must show more consistency. The pundits have said that as long as they get tougher opposition consistently, they will upstage tougher opponents. Fans are looking forward for solid performances from the Berbice lads.

Grove Hi Tec given the responsibility to carry the East Bank flag are

hoping to make their debut year a memorable one. They do not have any stars in their lineup but will be aiming to shine as a unit when they face off against Milerock come next Sunday from 16:00hrs.
Riddim Squad, formerly Mocha Champs, has taken the GFA division-one league by storm defeating all opposition in winning the competition in their debut year at this level. They will seek to spring much more surprises at the Kashif and Shanghai.
They have the distinction of being the only unbeaten team in the division-one competition and already proved that they will be a force to reckon with when they upstaged Pele in the NAMILCO championship. The Hope brothers among others will spearhead their challenge.
While the seasoned campaigners including defending champions Pele and Guyana’s most successful club Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United are expected to be in the pink of condition, the lesser known clubs will also be upping their game as is anticipated whenever Kashif and Shanghai comes around.
All the teams have the option of using four (4) loan players and one will expect that they will all take advantage of this option in order to strengthen their respective lineups.
Pele has just returned from a short tour of Lethem where they won both of their practice games and expected to be coming with all guns blazing as they attempt to retain the coveted title. Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson is expected to lead their quest in this regard.
Alpha, champions in 2007/2008, as usual looks very strong on paper and will be oozing confidence having just added the inaugural Guyana Football Federation National Super League Championship to their bulging collection. They were also successful in the Cellink Premier League Championship organized by the Georgetown Football Association.
They are led by National Captain Howard Lowe who has been a tower of strength in defence and is supported by an experienced group of players who have all proved that on their day, they can be unbeatable.
Two-time champs Sunburst Camptown (1993/1994 & 2003/2004) has a mix of young and senior players and has proven that they can upstage any opposition. They continue to falter at the last hurdle expect in the case of the NAMILCO Football Festival which they won this year defeating BK International Western Tigers. That apart they finished 3rd in the GFF Super League and 2nd to Alpha United for the second year in the Cellink Premier League.
Fruta Conquerors, going through a rebuilding phase are also two-time K&S champions (2002/2003 &2004/2005).
They have not been enjoying top flight victories for some time now but this tournament can very be a turning point for them.
They boast an exciting young brigade of players the likes of Manasseh Primo and Trevon Lythcott among others.
Add seasoned campaigners the likes of Lester ‘Puppy’ Peters, Elroy Parks and Delon Williams and they can be tough nut to crack on the day.
BK International Western Tigers boosts lots of talented players but has always faltered and has not yet won this prestigious tournament date.  However they have been showing ominous form in recent months and can be the surprise package this time around.
Their star forward Devon Millington, who was helped guide Guyana to a historical tournament victory when they won the inaugural Suriname Independence Cup recently can be Western trump card at eh K&S.
The Guyana Defence Force is another team that can go all the way. They possess the necessary weaponry to achieve the task but their style of execution has to be much more accurate if they are to win their first Kashif and Shanghai championship.
Santos, also in rebuilding mode will be out to show that they must not be taken lightly but have drawn the defending champions in their opening game. There is no room for errors since the format of this tournament is knock-out.
The Linden teams led by Milerock their division-one champs are hoping that the title will make its way back to the Bauxite Mining town after three years Bakewell Topp XX is the last Linden team to have won in the 2005/2006 edition when they defeated Alpha in the final.
Topp XX is the most successful K&S team having won the tournament five times but has not been doing well in their local competitions. With the team expected to be strengthened with the arrival of their T&T based professionals, they can again regain that championship confidence.
Eagles, Rusal and Netrockers, the other Linden teams will also be aiming to give good accounts of themselves when they get into action proper.
West Demerara’s Seawall United competing for the first time under a new name, formerly Pouderoyen are aiming to be the first team from the West Side to win the title. It is not an impossible task but they must be in tip top shape come game day, Wednesday December 16 when they match skills with Rusal.
The East Coast’s charge will be led by their top team, Buxton United. This is a team with an average age of about 19 and very talented. They put up a good showing in the just concluded GFF Super League and are expected to do well at the K&S.
Head Coach Lyndon France has a lot of confidence in his charges and the entire village of Buxton will be out to rally behind their boys.
Victoria Kings, K&S winners in 2001/2002 has not been their dominant best for quite some time. In their prime days with the likes of Bobbington ‘Pension’ King and the late Osmand Juene at the helm, they were a potent squad but have lost some flash and flair which they are hoping to regain in time for K&S this year.
Ann’s Grove, the other East Demerara team will be happy with the fact that they are not a big name but will be out to show that they can do big things when they take the field.
A mouth watering tournament is in the making and fans can brace for exhilarating action from the start to the end of the championship.

---

---