The Chambers English Dictionary describes the word ‘Alpha’ as “The Beginning” so, one can safely say that today marks the beginning of a long controversy between the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation and Guyana’s top football club, Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United.
After easily making their way past Grove Hi-Tech with a 7-1 win at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground last Saturday, the national club champions were set to play on Christmas Day (December 25) at the Guyana National Stadium.
The original fixtures also had defending champions Pele down to play on Boxing Day in Linden.
However, there were some changes to the fixtures with the organizers scheduling Pele to play on Christmas Day at the National Stadium with Alpha to play in Linden on Boxing Day.
It was against this scenario that Lumumba held a press conference yesterday to tell the media that his club will be playing on Christmas Day.
“First of all I want to make it clear that I respect the K&S tournament. They have done a lot for football in Guyana but then again, I am not prepared to allow them to go against the rules of the sport in the country. If they say we are not playing at the Guyana National Stadium, they have to give me and my team a valid reason for this,” Lumumba declared.
“What goes for one goes for all! If you check the fixture now, Pele only playing at the stadium. We are the national champions, at least they can show us some respect. I have written to Kashif and Shanghai about this and also to the GFF and I have talked to people from FIFA and CONCACAF,” Lumumba said.
Stabroek Sport yesterday caught up with both Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major and Kashif Muhammad at their Irving Street Office and the duo admitted receiving a letter from the club.
According to the duo, Alpha United and Fruta Conquerors will play the lone game on Boxing Day at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground while the clash in Linden will remain the same.
“We have received a letter from Alpha United and we understand their position and we have made a final adjustment with that game, and that’s final,” Muhammad said.
But Lumumba nevertheless remained adamant that his team was sticking to the initial fixture which had them playing on Christmas Day at the stadium.
“Listen, as far as I know, we are playing at the stadium on Christmas Day.
They have 48 hours to say to us why they change the game. You just can’t do things like that. I contacted the guys because we’re friends, you know, we respect each other, but then they tell me that it’s their tournament. I even said, `look, lets sit and talk it out let me hear what is your position,’ but like they have gotten too powerful,” Lumumba noted.
Team Captain Howard Lowe described the incident as unfortunate but said his club had to stand up for what it felt was right and not allow the promoters to take advantage of the club.
“These are two people I have great respect for but my club is not happy with the move of the game and, at this point in time, all I can say is that we are prepared to play on Christmas Day as well, but you know, you just can’t do things like that,” Lowe said.
This is Alpha’s fourth showing in the tournament. They reached the final in their first outing in 2005 losing to Bakewell Topp XX by a 0-1 margin.
The following year they were knocked out in the semi-finals by eventual winners Joe Public of Trinidad and Tobago.
In 2007, Alpha lifted the trophy for the first time after Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams netted the game’s lone goal against Bakewell Topp XX.
In last year’s edition, they were booted from the tournament by Pele who went on to claim the coveted title from Sunburst Camptown.