Can Camptown continue to slay Linden clubs?
- Kashif and Shanghai final
By Steve Ninvalle
Stabroek News
January 1, 2004
Bakewell Topp XX will attempt to break another record at the MSC ground this evening. The home team will face Camptown in what is expected to be the one of the most keenly contested Kashif and Shanghai final in the 14-year history of the competition and hope to win the contest for an unprecedented fifth time.
Topp XX started the competition at a snail's pace. In a hard fought game against Santos, the Linden team had to wait for kicks from the penalty mark to win and meet Milerock in the quarter final.
But even with the return of some seven professional players from overseas Topp XX was only able to scrape past Milerock, whose Randolph Jerome exhibited how easy it could be to run through Topp XX's defence. Topp XX won that match 2-1 after a late fury by Cary Harris resulted in two goals in the dying stages of the game.
In the semi-final stage the four-time winners shifted gear and humbled first-timers Silver Shatters 4-0. For this evening's game, as against Silver Shatters, Topp XX look the stronger side on paper, though football is not played on paper.
Topp XX has drafted Neil Hernandes and Anthony `Awo' Abrams from Suriname. Abrams and Hernandes play for Conquerors, but arrived here after their club had been knocked out of the competition. In addition, defenders, Howard Lowe and Abassy McPherson, mid-fielder Kayode McKinnon and striker Cary Harris returned from professional duty in Trinidad and Tobago and will form the core of the starting line up.
Richard Reynolds, un-doubtedly the best goalkeeper in the tournament will be between the uprights trying to save every shot from the Camptown strike force spearheaded by Nigel Codrington and Gregory `Jackie Chan' Richardson. Troy Prescod, Leslie Holligan, Sherwin Cadogan, Jonathan Peters and goalkeeper Marlon Hendricks will provide support.
Camptown is no walkover and proved to have a propensity for whipping teams from Linden since the start of the competition. Eagles United was the first to receive the wrath of Desmond Alfred's charges; being whipped 5-1 by a well-oiled Camptown.
Net Rockers, responsible for the early exit of defending champions Fruta Conquerors from the competition, was the next team from Linden to fall under the hammer of Camptown for 4-0. If the trend continues then Topp XX is in for along and miserable night.
At stake is $600,000 donated by President Bharrat Jagdeo.
In the supporting game scheduled to begin at 6 pm Silver Shatters and the Kashif and Shanghai All Star teams battle for the third place. Former national midfielder Bob-ington `Pension' King, Charles `Vald-erama' Rose and Ravin Choo among others will comprise the Shatters team.
Kashif and Shanghai All Star, made up mostly of players from the Western Tigers Football Club will include national Under-23 captain Shawn Beveney, Eron Hayde, Ryan Thomas and Devon Milling-ton will support. The winner of the match will receive $150,000 and the loser $100,000.
Meanwhile, tickets for the final will be on sale from 8 am today at the MSC ground. Kashif and Shanghai executive Aubrey `Shanghai' Major said that Sparta Global will provide 18 buses for persons wishing to return to Georgetown after the final.