By Rawle Toney
This year will be the third time that the team from the Berbice River will be taking part in the inaugural tournament and they are aiming to feature in the final on January 1, 2009.
RUSAL is a team out of the bauxite mining company which is located in Region 10. Under coach Carsbale Aaron, the side has had some amount of success playing in several competitions held by the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA).
They are billed to face fellow Linden club, five time champions Bakewell Topp XX on the opening night of the tournament at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground Sunday.
The last time the two sides met was in the final of the UDFA knockout Linden Town Day tournament where they were victors by a score of three goals to one.
According to coach Aaron, the team has been working hard even though they are not part of the present UDFA league. However, they are more than ready and raring to go on December 14. He added that they were looking to go all the way since in their two previous outings in the tournament, they were eliminated in the first round.
“Our team has been working hard and we are looking forward to playing in the Kashif and Shanghai tournament again. We know for certain that Topp XX will not be a walk-in-the-park since they will be coming very hard after the defeat in the Linden Town Day finals, but I think we are more than ready,” said Aaron.
RUSAL is at present a third division team in Linden and their coach said that despite this, his side is a threat to all the teams in Linden but the UDFA did not see it fit to elevate them.
“My team is a third division side and we pose a big threat to all the big teams in Linden, but because they don’t have third division tournaments, we are stuck here, but I hope after our showing in this tournament, they will see it fit to move us up,” Aaron said.
The side will be taking full advantage of the four loan-player ruling and are seeking the services of former national player, Travis Waterton who plays for Linden side Amelia’s Ward United along with Donavan Edmonds from Santos and a surprise player.
RUSAL’s team is made up of players who are employed at the bauxite company and are primarily residents of Kwakwani and Linden.
The clash with Topp XX will be the second game of a double header after the tournament is declared officially opened.
