The first prize of four million dollars (one pound of gold) for the 22nd annual Kashif and Shanghai (K&S) football tournament was presented yesterday in a simple handing over ceremony at the residence of Aruwai Mining Enterprise Inc. proprietor in D’Aguiar’s Park, East Bank Demerara.
Making the presentation was Aruwai’s Managing Director Kevin Boboolall whose company plans to build a massive seven-storey hotel, restaurant and supermarket complex on Sheriff Street in two years time.
Boboolall along with tournament organizer Kashif Muhammad spoke of their delight in working together, while Muhammad further highlighted that he has solicited the sponsorship services of Boboolall’s company for three more years, therefore teams in the competition can expect a decent and possibly improved first prize over that period.
No Alpha United
It was also disclosed that Alpha United will not be defending the crown they won on January 1 this year.
When asked by the media to explain the reasons why the defending champions Alpha United will not be participating in this year’s competition, Muhammad said: “Our tournament is guided by FIFA rules and regulations. FIFA rules govern the national body in this country which is the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and the national body is involved in a controversy right now in which certain teams are not under their umbrella with regards to their governance of football.
“We have to get sanctions from the GFF to run this tournament, so given that our tournament is invitational we would prefer that all the teams are recognized by the GFF.”
Given the past clashes that the K&S organization has had with Alpha United officials in the past, Muhammad was asked if he expected a backlash from the club due to this decision.
He reiterated his earlier point while going on to say that one of the reasons his tournament has been a success over the last 21 years was because they always abided by GFF rules and will continue to do so. He also said he would write a letter to Alpha United late yesterday, explaining the organization’s decision.
When this publication contacted Alpha United President Odinga Lumumba for a comment on this matter, he said he has yet to receive any word from the GFF or the K&S organization on this latest development, but when he is informed officially he will make a comment.
Finally when asked to give a comment on the recent news coming out of the Trinidad and Tobago press that Golden Jaguars coach Jamaal Shabbaz loan arrangement with the GFF may be at an end, Muhammad noted that he couldn’t say much but was confident that Shabbaz would remain in charge of the national football team going forward.
“I can’t comment much about the inner details about that matter, but I personally spoke to Shabbaz last night over the phone and no such topic was brought up, so as it stands in my view Shabbaz will still be Golden Jagaurs coach in the future.”
This year’s tournament is scheduled to kick off on December 10 and the final will be on January 1 with Jamaican Reggae star Jah Cure expected to perform at the final.
Twenty teams will be participating in the competition, including two foreign teams – Caledonia AIA of Trinidad and Caribbean United of Barbados. Fixtures for the tournament will be released on Saturday.
Along with the lucrative first prize, teams attaining second, third and fourth place will receive one million dollars, $500,000 and $300,000 respectively.
