Latest update March 18th, 2024 12:59 AM
Dec 03, 2010 Sports
By Michael Benjamin
The raging dispute between the executives of several local football clubs and the administration of the Kashif and Shanghai football organization that had threatened to negatively affect the smooth running of the tournament has been amicably resolved following a meeting with all of the principals and the executive of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF).
The tournament, undoubtedly the best locally organized, is now set to get underway on December 12 with a double header that pits the skill of the Golden Jaguars and Atletico of Roraima State in Brazil in the feature encounter while an Upper Demerara U-23 team tackle a National U-20 team. The matches and opening programme including the March Past will be staged at the National Stadium, Providence.
Notwithstanding this, the Kashif and Shanghai duo convened a meeting at the Golden Coast Orient Restaurant, Main Street, Georgetown with members of the media to clear up some of the utterances and contentions that had threatened to place this year’s edition of the championships in chaos.
The promotion group sought to present a better understanding of the expenditure towards the organizing of the tournament and disbursement of the prize and other monies. Both Directors, Kashif Muhammad and Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major made it clear that the tournament is clearly a profit making venture. However, they debunked claims made by certain sections of the football fraternity that they were hogging in all the profits while doling out measly sums to the footballers.
“Yes, we admit that we are in this to make a profit but the recent accusations coming out of the football clubs and the endorsement of these accusations by the media by dint of supporting articles do not reflect a true picture of the situation,” said a visibly upset Muhammad.
He pointed out that the footballers had benefited from increased emoluments that are reflective of the monies accrued by his team after all of the expenditure had been attended to. “This year we have injected over 4 million dollars into the prize money since we have experienced an increase in the sponsorship input,” he explained. He said that certain individuals were acting as inciting forces and pedaling the rumor that the K&S organizers had benefited from an input of millions of dollars in sponsorship funds but were less inclined to increase the footballers’ salary.
“Such accusations are wicked and malicious; it poisoned people’s minds and made us look like villains,” lamented Muhammad. He further intimated that his executives have been frank and open in their dealings and have even utilized the services of a reputable auditing firm which underlines their claim of transparency.
Kashif Muhammad then lashed out at his detractors even challenging them to emulate the works of his team. “Our tournament is now 20 years old and we can proudly say that we have never shortchanged anyone,” he pronounced. He then labeled some of their accomplishments which, to his mind, set the K&S organization above all others.
“We have facilitated a referees’ seminar as a run up to our tournament and yet we have paid our dues to the Referees’ Association,” said Major even as he attempted to give a clear picture of the sums utilized for a successful tournament.
“While this is a profit making venture we are required to pay our bills and we do have quite a lot of monetary commitments,” Shanghai disclosed. “Our organization is required to pay over M$7.6 in levy fees and prize monies. We are also shackled with transportation fees, payment of ground staff and security personnel which is not only limited to ranks from the Guyana Police Force but also private individuals,” intimated Muhammad. He further pointed out that his team is paid only after all expenses have been attended to.
The duo then lashed out at those that have been accusative saying that they (K&S) have demonstrated staunch innovation coupled with shrewd management techniques which has been responsible for the many successes they have experienced over the year. “Show me any other football tournament that has accomplished what we have done so far,” they challenged. “Our tournament is staged countrywide; we hold a March Past at the opening ceremony and we pick up the transportation and meals tab for all of the teams that are playing away from home, exhorted Muhammad. He further highlighted the fact that they are required to pay in excess of one million dollars rental fee for the National stadium plus another exorbitant sum to the coffers of the GFF. “Do the mathematics and tell me if our input is not valued,” said Muhammad.
Meanwhile, the duo revealed that the recent brouhaha has slightly affected the sponsorship input to the extent that one of the sponsors has revoked its package citing the disturbance as the reason. “We are not certain if we will be able to regain that deal,” said Muhammad in answer to a question from the media. His co-Director, Major, remains optimistic.
Quizzed on contingency plans for the future Muhammad said, “We would not be caught napping next year. We intend to have all systems in place way up front.”
The issue had its genesis about one week ago when Alpha United Boss Odinga Lumumba demanded increase prize money and other benefits, even stating that his team will not participate, which the organisers accepted. A three man team led by Lyndon France and Marlon Cole, purportedly representatives of the clubs that joined Alpha’s cause, demanded an increase of the preparation fees from $50, 000 to $200,000. The K&S duo had refused to negotiate saying that they were not prepared to do so under duress thus the intervention of the GFF. The matter was amicably settled with an increase in the preparation fee from $50,000 to $120,000, while the prize money that had been increased from the inception on last year’s figure, remained the same.
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