-Kashif and Shanghai Christmas Day treat for football lovers
Many football pundits believes that the winners of tonight’s clash could easily go on to take the title of this year’s Kashif and Shanghai Football tournament when action resumes with a Christmas Day treat at the Guyana National Stadium.

In game one, newcomers and talk-of-the-tournament, Riddim Squad, will clash with Sunburst Camptown.

In the second and more delicious encounter, defending champions Pele will tackle the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) in a match where both teams have expressed confidence that they will come out victorious.

In Pele’s first game, their international player Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson was the talk-of-the-night when he man-handled Santos Football Club on the way to his club’s 4-0 win watched by Brazilian legend Pele himself.

According to coach of the GDF team Marlon ‘Brando’ Washington, it is not going to be an easy day for the champs.

The GDF team overcame Seawall United 3-1 on Wednesday evening at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground but much was said about the way the army team looked on the field.

Washington said that will be sorted out by today.

“What happened was we had a transfer issue for a player who was training with us, that is Selwyn

‘Oochy’ Isaacs but that defender has all his issues sorted out and he now is ready to come and join us to make us stronger at the back. We are more than ready for Pele, and I’m certain that we will go all the way,” said Washington.

GDF finished as runners up in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) National League behind Alpha United and Washington pointed out that the entire force was rallying behind them.

“Well, support for this team I must say has been very good. We have the Chief-of-Staff Commodore Gary Best and the rest of high officials of the army behind us.

“I think that the GDF is also buying tickets for its staff to come out tomorrow to support us so it will be a packed house and a good game tomorrow (today),” Washington said.

For Pele, it will be a walk in the park or at least so says club president Carey Jacques who told Stabroek Sport that today his team  was “hyper” than ever before to defend their title.

Apart from Richardson upfront and the powerful Canada-based Konata Manning in midfield, the team will have the services of former senior national captain Charles ‘Lilly’ Pollard.

The defender is known for his tenacious style of play and has drawn respect from players across the Caribbean.
“Well of course, Pollard is back home and I feel it’s going to be a walk in the park for us because I sat and watched them play the other night and it was so you know, unimpressive I should say, so we are ready for tonight’s game and we will come out on top,” Jacques said.

In the opening encounter, all of Mocha Arcadia is expected to come out to show support to their team, Riddim Squad as they clash with tournament favourites Sunburst Camptown.

The “evil” striker, Nigel ‘Power’s Codrington backed by the “deadly” Telson McKinnon will

spearhead Camptown’s attack tonight.

Coach Wayne `Wiggy’ Dover told this newspaper after his team’s victory over Rosignol United at the Blairmont Community Centre Ground last weekend that Camptown could be in for a surprise tonight.

“I am not going to take Camptown lightly. It is going to be a good game and I must say that my team is ready to play and I am ready to go all the way.”

He added:”I like the challenge carrying my team to the final,” the national coach said.

A super concert will follow tonight’s proceedings featuring  Jamaican and International Dancehall Artiste Busy Signal at the same venue.