By Rawle Toney

Today at the National Stadium, Georgetown Football Association’s (GFA) Premier League Champions Alpha “The Hammer” United will clash with Pele in a game that many pundits say is a virtual final of the Kashif and Shanghai (K&S) tournament.

Alpha United are the defending champions and this year, they have won five titles compared to Pele who have not won any.

But winning titles alone is not the determining factor as anything can happen on any given day in football.

Based on performances this year one would give Alpha the edge.

But let’s take a look at two teams before we pass judgment.

Both sides have utilized the tournament’s four loan-player ruling to the fullest.

Alpha have brought in Grenadian striker Kithson Bain, who netted a double in their opening game where they thrashed Cougars of Berbice 10-1.

Short but solid in built; Bain is one of the better strikers on the Spice Isle.

He gained his reputation in the just-concluded Digicel Caribbean Championship where he finished among the tournament’s leading scorers.

His country also ended as runners up to Jamaica after losing 0-2 in the final.

Bain is no stranger to this soil as well.

Earlier in the year when Guyana lost 1-2 to Grenada at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground, Bain netted the opening goal of the match.

As a matter of fact, it was Bain who was involved in the collision with national captain Charles `Lilly’ Pollard which caused him to be sidelined for a few matches after sustaining injuries to his neck.

Pele on the other hand has gotten the services of national striker Gregory `Jackie Chan’ Richardson and Pollard for this match.

Richardson has been enjoying a good year for his Trinidad and Tobago Pro-League club, Joe Public featuring in almost every game for his club this season.

But it was in the CONCACAF Champions League that Richardson proved his mettle. The striker, playing against some of the top clubs from Mexico and the USA, turned in some excellent performances which caught the attention of some of the top clubs and he has reportedly earned a contract to play in a top flight club in France next year. With this in mind, one is sure that Richardson would want to prove to football fans that his good run this year was no fluke.

Pollard is expected to be his normal self at the back and will also bring some amount of leadership to the side as well while Konata Manning is likely to have a good game in the middle as per norm.

However captain Dirk Archer will need to step it up.

The addition of the two players was desperately needed by Pele if they are to have any chance of upstaging Alpha since they were lacking heavily in both areas in their 1-0 win over Milerock on the opening night in Linden.

Richardson is a very good striker and he can make things happen but his problem is that he gets frustrated easily if he does not get the ball quickly.

Alpha will add national defender Howard Lowe to their line up.

Lowe is one of the stalwarts on the national team and he plays an important role for his twin-island Pro-league Club Caledonia AIA.

Alpha coach, Wayne `Wiggy’ Dover is the national coach and has the advantage over Pele’s coach Denzil Thompson of having worked with most of the players from both sides.

As such, he should be aware of their strengths and weaknesses.

So, who will win you ask?

My answer is the team that plays better on the night. So be there, you might regret missing it.