Kashif and Shanghai…Newcomers Seawall to clash with Rusal tonight

Action in the 20th annual Kashif and Shanghai football competition will recommence tonight at the Georgetown Football Club Ground (GCC) with what is expected to be an exciting double header which kicks off at 6pm.

The feature match will see the 2002-2003 tournament victors, Fruta Conquerors, going head-to-head with Eagles United at 8:30pm while in the curtain raiser, Rusal will face Seawall United in their maiden voyage.

Coach of Linden’s Rusal Football Club, Carsdale Aaron, yesterday told Stabroek Sport that his team will definitely be going hard at their opponents.

According to Aaron, his team has an advantage as most teams in the tournament do not know their style of play.

“Our training has been pretty good. We have worked and trained hard so I think it’s time we moved forward given that we have been participating in this tournament for some time now.”

Aaron explained that his team had not played in any competition for the year because football in the Upper Demerara region has had a torrid time.

He, however, stated that the team has been playing matches against other clubs.

Rusal boasts former national player, Shane Adams who resides in Cayenne, as their loan player.

They will engage Kashif and Shanghai first timers Seawall United, a team that little is known about except having competed in the recent Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Super League competition.

Linden’s Eagle United, who feature four guest players, in national player Randy Small, former junior national custodian Ravin Choo, Marley Major and Essie Major, are eager to keep Linden hopes alive since a team from the region has already been eliminated after just one round.

Coach of the Eagles United team that won the second K&S tourney, Bing Charter, stated that Eagles was well-known and there will no be fearing of their opponents, Fruta Conquerors, as players on the team have a big hearts and lots of determination.

Eagles like the other Linden teams has been unable to participate in football competitions in Linden this year, but the coach does not feel his team will be at a disadvantage because of that.

Eagles are one of the first teams to compete in the prestigious tournament but they have been unable to reach the final since 1993-1994.

On the other hand, one time champion and three-time finalists, Fruta Conquerors, who have named Trinidad and Tobago-based player Vurlon Mills as their loan player said  that they have been well prepared for this tournament.

Coach Jevon Rodrigues told this newspaper that his team will be taking every game seriously and would not be over confident, or would not underestimate any opponent.

The Fruta Conquerors team has a number of young players in the squad to complement the senior players who they hope will be influential thereby allowing the younger players to become useful assets throughout the tournament.