Over the past 14 years, two football organisers have worked tirelessly to make the Kashif and Shanghai football tournament a success and they have.

But just who benefits from the profits made from the 15 matches played? The answer, some say, is the same two individuals.

These two promoters have done extremely well in organising a tournament of such magnitude, but the financial assistance given to them by the government has caused concern to members of staff of the National Sports Commission (NSC) and others, who, through frustration, resigned from the NSC.

President Bharrat Jagdeo has, for the past few years, been sponsoring the first prize which has increased from $500,000 in 2002 to $600,000 in 2003.

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport has, for the past three years, been sponsoring the participation of a team from the Rupununi.

This sponsorship includes return transportation to Rupununi, meals and accommodation for 20 persons. This, it is understood, amounts to over $1 million.

The money, like President Jagdeo's first prize donation, comes from the government coffers.

Some argue that that money could have been use perhaps to employ another coach or two at the under- staffed NSC. It could also have been used to ensure that the few coaches in the employ of the NSC run off programmes that would benefit a wider cross section of Guyana's youths.

There have been complaints from NSC employees, current and past, that when they budget for a programme, even though the budgets are passed months in advance, when it is time to conduct the programme, they are told that they have to scale down their programmes because there is not enough money.

A source within the NSC confirmed that the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation receives financial assistance from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.

Asked about complaints about budgets cuts and scaled-down programmes, the source explained that budgets for activities for the year are submitted with the cost of each programme.

In addition, quarterly and monthly programmes, which must be supplied by the 25th of each month for the following month, are submitted. However, if the NSC is informed that its budget is cut, the coaches are told that they must cut the cost of their programmes to suit the cash available.

Residents of Linden have complained that the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation fails to contribute to the community from their profits.

However, the organisation's Secretary, Colin `BL' Aaron, told Stabroek Sport his organisation has been making significant contributions to clubs and individuals not only in Linden but across the country over the years.

In response to the query whether his organisation pays taxes, Aaron said that at every game, an officer from the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is positioned at the gate of entry to count how many people enter. He said his organisation pays the 25% entertainment tax.

"Persons outside the organisation are just sitting and counting how much we make, but let me tell you, there are times when some officials like me don't get pay. We don't make no sort of money, sometimes those two individuals have to push their hands in their pockets to offset expenses," Aaron said.

However Aaron's comments were contradicted by that of Guyana Football Federation general secretary George Rutherford.

"We have never gotten a statement that showed that the tournament was run at a loss," Rutherford told Stabroek Sport.

Asked if the organisation submits financial statements to the ministry or the NSC, Aaron said it is given two months after the tournament ends to submit statements to the Guyana Football Federation, the NSC and the ministry.

This was confirmed by Rutherford who said that the Kashif and Shanghai organisation usually submits and audited financial statement to the GFF.

"In the past we have received statements although last year we did not," Rutherford said.

"We have a contract in terms of what they have to do in terms of payment of levy fees which is calculated on the gross gate receipts," Rutherford said.

The two months since the last tournament will end at the end of this month and Rutherford said he expects to receive the statement, audited by a reputable auditing firm by March 1.

Some persons have speculated that at the end of last year's tournament the organisation raked in more than $12 million in gate receipts.

There are annually, 16 participating teams who compete on a knock-out basis with two matches per day and there were 15 playing days. These do not include the match between Georgetown and Linden that is normally played at the opening and attracts a very large crowd. So, there are 12 matches before the semi-finals.

At every double header prior to the semi-final and final, there are approximately 1,500 spectators in attendance. The semi finals attract in the vicinity of 2,500 to 3,000, while the final attracts more than 8,000 spectators.

Prior to the semi-final, patrons are charged a $300 entry fee, but for the semi-finals, they have to pay $500 to witness the game. For the final, the entrance fee is $700.

When told that the organisation had expenses to pay such as officials, gate men, ball boys and for advertisements, one individual pointed out that there was a match between Georgetown and Linden where approximately $1.2 million was collected and apart from drawing down from the government, the organisation received sponsorship for all their prizes and some individuals contributed cash.