They came and they conquered
- Conquerors silence detractors by winning 13th Kashif and Shanghai football crown
By Steve Ninvalle
Stabroek News
January 3, 2003
Just when many were on the verge of writing off national league champions Fruta Conquerors the club bounced back to silence its detractors by winning the coveted Kashif and Shanghai knockout football title.
In front of a packed house at the MSC ground on Wednesday Conquerors edged Western Tigers 1-0 to cart off the $600,000 first prize donated by His Excellency president Bharrat Jagdeo and add the prestigious crown to its already bulging collection.
Substitute Gerald Grittens was credited with `threading the needle’ four minutes before the final whistle. “I said that the team making the least amount of errors would win the final. Western Tigers made a simple error late in the game and were punished,” Conquerors coach Dereck `Slight’ Whyte said.
“I really welcome this title since certain sections of the media felt that we were no longer championship material. I need to highlight that we played the entire tournament without conceding a single goal,” Whyte added.
Western Tigers looked half the team that defeated Camptown in the semi-final and struggled to find coordination in the first half. Conquerors started with midfielder Neil Hernandez (who played his first game of the tournament) and Charles `Valderama’ Rose and held the upper hand through out the first half.
Striker Anthony `Awo’ Abrams squared a pass to Dexter Bentick whose attempt at gaining the lead for Conquerors was denied when the ball blocked by a defender in the 15th minute.
Soon after, Rose, who dangled near but never delivered was the next from Conquerors to miss the target with a shot that was just off the first post.
Bentick was again afforded a chance to open for Conquerors after receiving a high pass from Hernandez with approximately 14 minutes left in the half. However, with the Tigers out of position Bentick booted the ball over the bar.
In the second half to chants of `Western, Western’ the Tigers upped the tempo but were met by a sturdy defence. A free kick from Conquerors’ captain Neville `Smutty’ Stanton forced the opposing goalkeeper to fly high to chuck the ball for a corner.
A scrimmage resulted after the corner was taken and Grittens got his boot to the ball for the lone goal of the match. Western Tigers countered with three quick corners but again were denied by the stout Conquerors defence.
“I don’t think that any one team dominated the game. Western Tigers is a tough team and we played them on their merit. Winning in football is not always spectacular. We played a team game and that was enough to earn us this title,” Whyte added.
It was Conquerors fifth appearance (second in the final) in the Kashif and Shanghai competition and the club won all four their matches via a 1-0.
Western Tigers will receive $300,000 compliments of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.
The finalist were met by Presidential Adviser on Empowerment Odinga Lumumba, Keith Booker permanent secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Mayor of Linden Stan Smith and Guyana Football Federation president Colin Klass.
In the third place play off Camptown had no mercy on Santos who they thrashed 5-1. Nigel Codrington was again the danger man and found the nets twice to take his tally in the tournament to six goals.
However the performance was not enough to earn him the MVP of the tournament which was won by Eron Hayde who ended wit five goals.
Clayton McLoud, Leslie Holligan and Codrington netted in the ninth, 29th and 42nd minutes respectively to hand Camptown a 3-0 lead at half time.
Chris `Cruiser’ Duggan pulled one back for Santos with a goal two minutes into the second half. Holligan completed his double in the 63rd minute with Codrington emulating 26 minutes later.
At the presentation ceremony that followed: Milerock’s goalkeeper Fidel Smith was voted the most outstanding youth player. Eron Hayde was credited with scoring the most spectacular goal (first goal of the semifinal between Western and Camptown). Codrington was adjudged the Most Valuable Player of the third place play off and teammate Jonathan Peters the best midfielder of the tournament.
Wester Tigers’ Delon Fraser was voted best defender of the tournament while Stewartville’s Joslyn Small is the best goalkeeper.
The award for the best dressed team went to Region Eight. Conquerors’ Chaves Hescott is the MVP of the first semi-final and Hayde the MVP of the second semi-final. Hayde also received the player’s fair play award. Neil Hernandez was adjudged the MVP of the final.
Meanwhile, cheques for the four placing team will be handed over this morning 9:30 pm at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.
