Latest update November 5th, 2024 1:00 AM
65 goals scored in 21st K&S tourney; 4 less than 20th edition
Four less goals were scored by the 20 teams who contested the 21st Kashif & Shanghai knock-out football tournament which kicked off on December 15, 2010 and concluded on January 1, 2011.
City side Alpha United emerged 3-2 winners over Pele following an exhilarating final at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence which was witnessed by a sold out crowd. Following is the statistical report that was presented at the presentation ceremony by Lawrence Griffith.
A total of sixty five (65) goals were scored compared to sixty nine (69) in 2009/10. Twenty four (24) goals were scored in the first half with thirty eight (38) scored in the second half while three (3) were netted in extra time.
Lawrence Griffith
The fastest goal was converted by Vurlon Mills of Fruta Conquerors in the 5th minute against Victoria Kings. History revealed that most of the goals were scored in the second half which is an indication that the coaches went back to the drawing board and changed tactics and strategy.
Anthony Abrams of Alpha United and Devon Millington of Pele FC each scored five (5) times with Abrams netting a helmet-trick in Alpha’s opening match against the hapless Sewall FC while Millington scored in every game he played.
Two players scored four goals each, Nigel Codrington of Sunburst Camptown and Dwight Peters of Alpha United. Three players converted a hat-trick each, nine players scored two goals each and twenty players scored one (1) each. A total of thirty six (36) players scored. The competition did not produce any own goals.
Alpha United found the back of the more than any other team – fifteen (15) compared to twelve (12) by Sunburst Camptown in the last edition. Pele was adjudged the best defensive team with three (3) goals scored against them.
A total of eighty (80) cautions were issued. Thirty (30) were shown in the first half, forty three (43) in the second half and seven (7) in extra time. The earliest caution was shown to Lennox Charles of Santos in the 4th minute against Pele. Three players each received three yellow cards during the tournament – Lennox Charles of Santos, Howard Lowe of Alpha United and Anthony Benfield of Sunburst Camptown.
Four players were yellow carded twice – Kayode McKennon and Fitzroy Chin of Bakewell Topp XX, Orlando Gilgeous of Camptown and Sherlock Dowden of Victoria Kings.
Camptown players were cautioned on 11 occasions, Topp XX (9), Alpha United (8); the Guyana Defence Force and Pele, six times each. Rosignol United was the only team which did not receive a caution.
Five (5) red cards were issued with Victoria Kings receiving two (2) with one apiece to Camptown, Seawall and Santos. In the previous tournament six players were expelled.
Five (5) games went into extra time with three going into kicks from the penalty mark. The widest margin of defeat was 6-0 when Alpha United trounced Seawall FC. Only one match concluded with the score 0-0 at the end of regulation and extra time.
A total of nine matches ended with a one goal difference. Of the twenty games played the teams which scored first in the opening 18 games came out victors. On the last day of the tournament, the teams which scored first both lost – Bakewell Top XX and Pele.
The tournament started low key with no team looking like winners after the conclusion of the first five games. It was not until Alpha played and won by a wide margin that a potential winner evolved; Alpha too did not look too convincing despite the wide margin of victory.
The next round saw teams tightening up with competition becoming stiffer; the tacticians (coaches) were pulling out all the stops to give their respective teams the edge. This was evident with the caliber of Coaches that remained on the final day in Wayne Dover (Alpha), Gordon Braithwaite (Pele), Collie Hercules (Bakewell Topp XX) and Joseph Wilson (Sunburst Camptown).
The teams which featured in the finals and third place game had the more experienced and so called better players. If this tournament is to be played on a fairer and even playing field, the issue of guest/loan players would have to be looked at, because those with the deeper pockets will always be able to acquire the better players.
Maybe for once we can play with no guest players then we will see which home grown team is better equipped with the smarter tactician and players.
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