K&S final today at Linden ...
Topp XX and Camptown battle for $600 000 first prize
By Isaiah Chappelle
Guyana Chronicle
January 1, 2004
TOPP XX and Camptown clash a second time in the final of the Christmas Football Festival, staged by the Kashif & Shanghai (K&S) Organisation at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground, Linden, today.
In the third place play-off, 2002 finalists Western Tigers, playing under the Kashif & Shanghai All Stars banner, meet newcomers Silver Shattas from 18:00 hrs.
President Bharrat Jagdeo, who was instrumental in getting the government to support the tournament since he was finance minister, is expected the grace the final, along with Minister of Sport Gail Teixeira and several other government ministers.
Leader of the PNC/R Robert Corbin is also expected to be among the many dignitaries who will witness the 14th final.
Three championships ago, Topp XX and Camptown battled for the coveted title with Topp XX prevailing to capture their fourth title, the most crowned club in the history in the championships. They are now looking for their fifth, which could very well be theirs again.
The 1994, 1996, 1999 and 2000 champions have a most formidable line-up, boosted with guest players Anthony Abrams and Neil Hernandez, both National players -- one a striker and the other a creative midfielder. The duo played from the quarterfinals and Abrams struck twice.
Professional players Howard Lowe, Carey Harris and Collie Hercules add strength in the defence and striking line, although Harris now plays an offensive midfield role, with Hercules and Abrams in the strike. Harris struck the net twice and Hercules once.
Add midfielder Kayode McKinnon, the experienced Sheldon Noel and Richard Reynolds in goal and Topp XX appear unbeatable.
The club has beaten all the big-name teams in the tournament since rising to prominence in 1994, beating the more seasoned Milerock for their first title, then Pele for the second, Conquerors for the third and Camptown for the fourth.
Camptown won the Kashif & Shanghai title in 1993, shortly after a bunch of energetic young men carried the club to their first senior title - the city’s Demico League crown.
Many of those players migrated, while the others became less potent as they aged and Camptown struggled in tournaments.
Then in 2000, coach Desmond Alfred worked with another bunch of energetic young men who made waves on the field of play, but football politics prevented competitive play in the city and the teams suffered, which was evident in their play. They reached the final, some would say by luck, and lost to Topp XX down to ten men and nine at one stage, due to injury. The result was decided from the penalty spot.
Last year, Camptown bowed out to Western Tigers in the semifinals. However, they turned the tables this year, disposing of the Tigers from the penalty spot, probably indicating that there would be no repeat of 2000.
Camptown have a strong line-up, though the striking line was weakened when Elton Brown joked himself out with a stupid red card in the semifinals. They still have the sensational Gregory Richardson and Nigel Codrington, with good support from power midfielder Jonathan Peters, Leslie Holligan and Troy Prescod, with Kester Alleyne in defence and the dependable Marlon Hendricks in goal.
All victories minus the semifinals were by huge margins, 5-1 over Eagles United and 4-0 over Netrockers. Topp XX’s big win was only against newcomers Silver Shattas.
Whatever the outcome, history will be made, with Topp XX aiming for a record fifth title, while Camptown seek to become the first city club to win the title a second time, being among just three teams from the capital to have been crowned in the history of the championship.
With a tantalising $600 000 first prize, this final should be a sizzling encounter in which no ground will be given without a battle.