Convincing Camptown take Kashif and Shanghai final
by Steve Ninvalle
Stabroek News
January 4, 2004
Camptown's Lance Rawlston (centre) is about to run through the Topp XX defence of Neil Hernandes (right) and Gordon Henry. Picture by Lawrence Fanfair.
If there was ever a convincing 1-0 victory in football then it happened in the final of the Kashif and Shanghai football competition staged at the MSC ground on Thursday evening.
Camptown Football Club disrupted the plans of Bakewell Topp XX with a single goal that decided which way President Bharrat Jagdeo's first prize donation of $600,000 should go.
The game was won in the very first minute when Nigel Codrington mesmerised the Topp XX defence to send in the `needle' in front of a crowd of over 8,000.
Topp XX, the third team from the mining town to be slain by Camptown in the tournament and fielding seven professionals, were out-hustled by their more hungry opponents who mixed aggressive striking with stout defending.
"We have a team that played as a unit and it's hard to be defeated when you play as a team," Desmond Alfred, coach of the winning team, said. "We recognised that we have a good quality football team and if we played together as a unit they could not beat us."
Looking the more professional side, Camptown controlled the game and only expert goalkeeping by the lanky Richard Reynolds prevented a victory by a larger margin.
"We were not going to let them control the mid-field. In the last game [against Kashif and Shanghai All Stars], we didn't play well in the midfield. We worked all week on that. We knew that if we won the mid-field we would have won the game. We did win the mid-field tonight," Alfred said.
Both teams were introduced to Prime Minister Sam Hinds, Presidential Adviser on Empowerment Odinga Lumumba and Miss Guyana Universe Odessa Phillips before the start of the game.
However, the trio had just returned to their seats when Codrington forced them to stand once again. Advancing down the left wing, the goal-hungry striker left two defenders in his wake in the twinkle of an eye, before slotting the ball past Reynolds with only 41 seconds gone on the clock.
The goal was the fastest scored in the tournament and earned Codrington $145,000.
Camptown continued to carry the fight to the host team on the wet outfield and were nearly rewarded in the 15th minute when Codrington passed to an unmarked Gregory Richardson in the box.
The first time shot was well saved by Reynolds. In the second half Camptown persisted with aggressive play, had the hog's share of ball possession and close calls on Topp XX goal area.
"This victory is very sweet. It is the icing on the cake. I'm very, very happy," Alfred declared.
It was the second time in the 14-year history of the competition that Camptown emerged champions, the last time being in 1993. Topp XX was attempting to become the first team to win the title five times.
Stabroek Sport was unable to get a comment from Topp XX's player coach Collie Hercules who refused when asked for an interview.
For winning the game Camptown also collected a further $200,000 donated by Raymond and Friends.
Topp XX received $300,000 for filling the runner-up spot. In the third place play-off the Kashif and Shanghai All Star side edged out Silver Shatters 4-3 in a match decided by kicks from the penalty mark.
In the keenly contested match, Edison Gomes found the net in the 22nd minute to give the All Star team a 1-0 lead at half-time. Eron Hayde made it 2-0 two minutes into the second half.
Shevon Seaforth pulled one back for Silver Shatters in the 48th minute while Nigel Price found the equaliser in the 55th minute.
Ryan Thomas made it 3-2 in favour of the All Star team in the 62nd minute before Leon Clement levelled two minutes later. The win earned the All Stars $150,000.
Silver Shatters, playing in their first Kashif and Shanghai contest earned $100,000. At the presentation ceremony held just after the finals former national midfielder and captain of Camptown Troy Prescod was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament. Prescod was also adjudged the best mid-fielder.
Team-mate Codrington was voted the MVP of the final. Richard Reynolds of Topp XX was adjudged the best goalkeeper of the tournament while Leon Clement of Silver Shatters is the MVP of the third place play-off.
The competition's best defender is Orlando Jilgeous of Camptown and the most outstanding youth player is Javin Crawford of Topp XX.
Sean Beveney of the All Star side provided the best play of the tournament. Camptown also was voted the best offensive and defensive team. The best uniformed team is Beacon while the award for the most spectacular goal went to Clement Browne of West Demerara.
The Fair Play trophy went to the Rupununi team, Kanuku Invaders, which was also voted the most improved team. Camptown's Elton Browne and Codrington, Dwight Peters of BV/Triumph and Cary Harris of Topp XX, who all finished on three goals apiece, shared the award for the player scoring the most goals.