-says Kashif Muhammad
By Yonalla Dalrymple
Four teams from the Upper Demerara Football Sub Association (UDFSA) are expected to compete in the 23rd edition of the annual Kashif and Shanghai football tournament.
So said Co-Director of the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation and none other than Kashif Muhammad himself. In an exclusive interview with Stabroek sport yesterday Muhammad made the disclosure but refrained from naming the Linden teams which will be involved in his tournament.
In a previous interview with this publication, Sharma Solomon, president of the UDFSA, had indicated that eight teams will participate in the rival tournament, the Georgetown Football Association’s Banks DIH limited-sponsored tournament which is expected to attract most of the top city teams.
Muhammad said nevertheless, his organization will be releasing the list of the participating teams in 10 days time.
“Within the next 10 days or so we will be releasing the teams that will be playing in the tournament so that the public will be informed about the participating teams,” he added.
Some 16 teams will compete in the tournament.
When asked if the Kashif and Shanghai organization was concerned about the hype that has been surrounding the Banks tournament, Muhammad said they were not concerned about anything but will continue to promote football in Guyana no matter what obstacles may be in their way. “Our tournament has been playing for 23 years and it was built on a desire for football at the particular point and time and the Banks tournament came up through, I don’t know how to put it, but it’s just not one of the healthiest ways they came up with the tournament but to just come and put in on the same day with ours.
He criticized Banks DIH Limited for sponsoring the GFA tournament which is being run simultaneously with the Kashif and Shanghai tournament and suggested that the decision might have had resulted from a falling out between his organsation and Banks DIH Limited, pointing out that the GFA tournament has not received the blessings of the GFF, the governing body for football in Guyana.
Nevertheless, Muhammad said that the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation was up to par with preparations for tournament that will begin on December 16 and end on January 1.
