Kashif and Shanghai kicks off today
Coach Dover looks to Under-23s to steal victory
By Steve Ninvalle
Stabroek News
December 7, 2003
The 12 national Under-23 players in the Georgetown team to play Upper Demerara this afternoon at the opening of the Kashif and Shanghai football competition, are expected to play a pivotal role if the city is to secure a victory.
Head coach of the city team Wayne Dover yesterday underlined that his side is better prepared than Upper Demerara's and pledged that Georgetown should come away comfortable winners.
"Our team is basically a mixture of youth and experience and I expect the youths to play a pivotal role in our victory. Linden has a lot of good players but we are physically and mentally prepared for the task ahead," Dover said.
Georgetown meets Upper Deme-rara at the MSC ground this evening to kick off this year's tournament. "The young guns from the national Under-23 team are ready to go. I can promise a tormenting time for Linden."
Senior national goalkeeper Marlon `Gambino' Hendricks has been named captain of the 22-man Georgetown side which leaves for Linden at 2 pm this afternoon from the GFC ground.
Gregory Richardson
"I'm very confident of a victory. We have so many good players in Georgetown to choose from that any combination should be able to handle Linden," Dover boasted.
Dover has gone for an excessively strong strike line. Under-23 marksmen Gregory `Jackie Chan' Richardson and Devon Millington have gained the selector's nod and will be supported by Delon Glenn, Nigel Codrington and Eron Hayde, the leading goal scorer in the last Kashif and Shanghai tournament.
The coach believes that regardless of who starts, the opposition's defence is in for a horrid evening. "This is a squad that has talent on the field and on the bench. The explosion could come from anywhere. Every player is a potential threat to Linden, when they combine it is even worse."
Upper Demerara has drafted in overseas-based striker `John' Wayne Milo in a 30-man squad that includes fellow strikers Tony `Spirit' Adams and Collie `Hitman' Hercules.
The selectors of the host team have leaned more to experience to assist in stopping the charge of George-town, who won the last showdown between the two.
Former national midfielder Bobington `Pension' King, Charles `Valderama' Rose, striker Matthew `Assassin' Pollard, Troy Richards and Sheldon Noel have also been named in the Upper Demerara side.
Team Georgetown will come from: Marlon Hen-dricks, Andrew Durant (goalkeepers), Lester Peters, Leslie Holligan, Walter `Boyd' Moore, Orlando Gilgeous, Sherwin Cadogan, Kelvin Mackenzie (defenders), Elroy Parks, Shawn Bishop, Kanata Mannings, Nigel Denny, Andre Mayers, Dirk Archer, Dwayne Alli, Travis Grant, Shawn Beveney (midfielders), Gregory Richardson, Devon Millington, Nigel Codrington, Eron Hayde and Delon Glenn.
This evening's double-header card will kick off with a match between a George-town Masters led by former national captain Terrence Archer, and a Linden Masters. A march past of teams will commence at 6:30 pm.
Meanwhile, a lucky ticket holder will win a cellular phone, compliments of Cell Phone Shack.