We will deliver our customary standards - Kashif Muhammad

We will deliver our customary standards – Kashif Muhammad

Dec 14, 2010 Sports

Kashif Muhammad sharing some words with Minister of Sport Dr. Frank Anthony at Sunday's opening ceremony.

Urges teenage fans to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS

Co-Director of the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation Kashif Muhammad has promised sponsors and the entire football fraternity that they can look forward to the usual high standards at this year’s tournament which was officially unveiled on Sunday evening at the National Stadium, Providence.
Muhammad in his welcome and opening remarks told the fans that it was by the Grace of God and backing of their sponsors in both the public and private sectors along with their faithful supporters and fans that they have been able to see another year, the 21st Anniversary tournament.
“We give thanks for the unique opportunity that we have been afforded to make a contribution to sport and more particularly to football in our country over those years.
Those of you who shared with us the excitement of our twentieth anniversary will no doubt recall the very special treat afforded by the presence in this very stadium a year ago of the great King Pele as an honoured guest of the Tournament. If we have not been able to quite match that particular feat this year, we continue to have an interest in strengthening football ties between Guyana and our neighbor Brazil.”
The feature game on Sunday evening saw the Kashif & Shanghai All Star lineup defeating Atletico Roraima of Brazil 1-0 on account of a Carey Harris 35th minute goal.
Muhammad noted that planning and execution for the tournament gets more challenging each year and while they never feel burdened by the hard work associated with putting the event together, the organization is certainly burdened by the expectations of their fans.
“You have come to expect great things of the tournament and I say to you with monumental confidence that we have no intention of disappointing you this year. We intend deliver to our customary high standards.”
Muhammad emphasized that football cannot be played in Guyana in isolation of what happens in the society as a whole and this has been the position of the Organisation for several years.
“That is why, today, I wish to draw your attention to some of the disturbing outcomes of a recent study on HIV/AIDS conducted by the National Aids Programme Secretariat. One outcome is that we are not yet winning the battle to curb the prevalence of the disease among teenagers. This is a disturbing revelation and I want to draw it to the attention of our teenaged fans. You simply must adopt measures to protect yourselves against HIV/AIDS.”
The experienced and successful Promoter promised that this season of Kashif & Shanghai football will be an exciting one.
“As I usually do, I want to call once again for your enthusiastic but disciplined participation in the tournament. The same of course applies to those players who will be matching skills at the various venues in the weeks ahead.”
The tournament proper is set to kick off with a potentially exciting double header at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) Ground. With no room for mistakes teams are very conscious that only winners will progress, losers will go home.
Defending champions BK International Western Tigers will come up against Buxton United in tomorrow’s feature match, the curtain raiser will see Riddim Squad taking on Bartica’s Liquid Gold. Kick off time is 18:00hrs.
(Franklin Wilson)