The 22nd winner of the Kashif & Shanghai tournament on January 1, 2012 will strike gold, literally.
The winning team will receive one pound of Guyana gold, worth $4 million, compliments of Aruwai Enterprise Inc.
This would put in the pale, the amounts of $1 million, $500,000 and $300,000 for the next three finishers and close the chapter on last year’s debacle with the Plus One deal.
The MVP of the tournament will receive a motorcycle.
These announcements were made by organisers of the end-of-year football tournament Kashif Muhammad and Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major yesterday at the Roraima Duke Lodge, Kingston.
And according to the organisers, reggae artiste Jah Cure will be performing after the final at the Guyana National Stadium.
Last year the Kashif & Shanghai Organisation (K&SO) broke new ground and supplemented the $2 million first prize with a $5million kit sponsorship. However, after the eighth month, the overseas company did not honour its commitment, resulting in the K&SO paying the winner, Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United, and runner-up Pele, undisclosed sums.
The tournament kicks off on December 10 with an opening ceremony at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC); 20 teams will be competing for the ultimate top prize.
Apart from the 18 local teams, overseas teams Caledonia AIA of Trinidad and Tobago, and Caribbean United of Barbados will be playing in the tournament.
Muhammad said that at the institutional level, it has been a difficult year for football locally, regionally and internationally. He also indicated that the tournament was birthed and grew up “on tough times” but promised these would not last forever.
He stated boldly that the organisation stands ready “to play our part in salvaging the ship of local football.”
He thanked the companies that have supported the organisation and the tournament over the years, singling out the Government of Guyana, GT&T, Ansa Mc Al, Mohamed’s Enterprise and Banks DIH, one of the first sponsors of the tournament.
Also speaking yesterday were Brand Manager of Demerara Distillers Limited, Maria Munroe; PRO of Ansa Mc Al, Darshanie Yussuf; Brand Manager of Ansa McAl Nigel Worrell and Chief Financial Officer of GT&T Royston Raichpaul who all underscored the willingness of their companies to be associated with the competition and pledged their continued support to sport, its development and athletes in the country.
Meanwhile, acting president of the Guyana Football Federation Franklin Wilson emphasized the federation’s support of the tournament and urged everyone to contribute to the development of football in Guyana.
