Alpha United looking to bounce back

—says Wayne Dover

After losing in the semi final of the 23rd Kashif and Shanghai tournament to eventual winners Buxton United, Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United will look to bounce back and lift the champion’s trophy of the sixth annual NAMILCO Football Tournament.

Alpha United, the two-time winners of the tournament’s top honours (2008 and 2010) will be looking to add another piece of hardware when the knockout tournament dubbed NAMILCO One Love Football Classic kicks off tomorrow evening at the Fruta Conquerors ground in Tucville.

Footballers of the Alpha United Football Club going through their paces during Thursday’s practice session at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground. (Orlando Charles photo)
Footballers of the Alpha United Football Club going through their paces during Thursday’s practice session at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground. (Orlando Charles photo)

“As a club that won this tournament twice we are entering it on a positive note in order to regain this championship and that is our main focus,” said Alpha’s Coach, Wayne Dover Thursday during an interview with Stabroek Sport.

“There is no doubt we will be aiming to get back to our winning ways having been on the receiving end in the Kashif and Shanghai tournament but that is behind us and we will be focusing on what is before us now knowing that the NAMILCO tournament is going to start soon,” Dover added.

Dover stated that once his charges put in the necessary preparation, he is confident that they can be triumphant in any local tournament.

“I’m very positive of our team winning the tournament because we have been playing together for quite some time now.

“I know we have good chemistry and good players on our team; we just need to make the necessary preparation to ensure that we win these tournaments.

“We are always confident about entering and winning tournaments but as I said before, some days you would not get the results you want but you just have to go back to the drawing board and correct your mistakes.”

The Alpha United coach also said that although football is a team sport, he will be looking forward to inspiring performances from players such as Captain, Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams, defenders, Abassy McPherson, Kelvin McKenzie and national forward, Dwight Peters, who was the leading goal scorer in the Kashif and Shanghai tournament with seven goals.

“We always look forward for a solid team performance but sometimes you always want to have certain individuals stepping up and playing to their true potential that you know they can play to and bring out performances that can spearhead the team to victory.

“Players like Dwight Peters and Abrams and now we will have the return of Andrew Murray Jr., and we need good defending from individuals like Kelvin McKenzie and Abassy McPherson, we look forward to a solid team performance,” Dover reiterated.

‘The Hammer’ will be looking to nail Riddim Squad in their opening game on February 13.

Seawall United will face the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in the first game of tomorrow’s double header while GDF will tackle Northern Rangers in the feature game.

Action for the sixth annual tournament dubbed the NAMILCO One Love Foot-ball Classic tournament will start at 18:00hrs.

Alpha United along with 15 other teams including last year’s winner, GDF will compete for bragging rights, the winner’s trophy and the first prize of $1.2M.

The second, third and fourth placed teams will receive $600,000 and a trophy, $400,000 and a trophy and $200,000 and a trophy respectively.

There will be eight playing days and the final will be staged on February 24 at a venue which is still uncertain.

The other teams scheduled to compete in the tournament are Buxton United, Camptown, winners of the second Banks/GFA Tourna-ment, host Fruta Conquerors, Beacon, Pele, Santos FC, Georgetown Football Club (GFC), Western Tigers, Netrockers and New Amsterdam United.

The eight playing days are February 3rd, 8th, 10th, 13th, 15th, 17th, 20th and 24th.