Guyana’s Road to the 2010 Football World Cup finals was launched on Saturday at the Umana Yana in Kingston with a call for unity and support for the (Golden Jaguars) national team in its quest to secure a place in the 32-team finals in South Africa.
But the plans have hit its first hurdle as the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) is unable to secure a field for the National team to train and next weekend’s clash against St. Vincent and the Grenadines is in limbo because of the current situation.
In delivering the charge, FIFA’s vice president Austin “Jack” Warner, expressed his displeasure over the current situation saying that football has been discriminated against.
Warner made the comments at the function which was attended by Minister of Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, Mayor of Georgetown, Hamilton Green, several top business executives and officials of the football fraternity.
Warner said that he had visited the Thomas Lands area and had seen many grounds abandoned or neglected but there was no facilities for the national football team to train.
The current inclement weather has taken its toll on many grounds around the country and several grounds administrators have said no to the GFF’s request to use their facilities.
The FIFA vice-president, who is also a member of parliament in Trinidad and Tobago, said success could only be achieved if all the elements were in place to make it work and he called on Dr. Anthony and Mayor Green to put aside their political persuasions and raise their voices and provide the necessary support to the football team.
“We must never allow politics to affect sport. Football has done for Trinidad and Tobago what no politician has done for the country,” he added.
“This is a red letter day for Guyana, there is no substitute for hard work and the team can only qualify based on the efforts put into its preparation,” Warner emphasized.
He called on the GFF to sensitize local businesses on their plans so that they can garner support.
“The road is long but the dream is a realistic one.”
Dr. Anthony said the Golden Jaguars have done Guyana proud so far and expressed confidence that “if we work together we can reach the World Cup finals.”
He said Guyana’s World Cup campaign would require a lot of funding and he was happy to see the GFF garnering support from Guyanese in the Diaspora.
Dr. Anthony offered government’s support and said that President Bharrat Jagdeo had consented to serve as Patron of the committee which has a wide cross section of business leaders in Guyana and the Diaspora.
GFF President, Colin Klass, said that all Guyanese must unite around the Golden Jaguars.
Klass said that the GFF started the momentum for the 2010 World Cup last year adding that united momentum will take the project forward in 2008.
Regional telecommunications provider Digicel is on board with the GFF and its local Marketing Director, Donovan Whyte, praised the GFF on the launch of the World Cup committee.
GFF Technical director Jamal Shabbazz called on Guyanese to support the team, while United States-based Guyanese, John Yates, a member of the World Cup Committee, said that the effort of the committee would depend on the support of all Guyanese.
“Our effort will depend on the government, the people, the business sector and we look forward to your full support,” Yates a former president of the local football and basketball associations pleaded.
The World Cup committee comprises Brian Edun, Ramsey Ali, Bobby Vieira, Abiola Wong-Inniss, Colin Baker, Ulric Ceres, John Rodrigues, Gregory Lewis, Sheridan David, Jamal Shabbazz, Stan Harmon, Frederick Granger, Xavier Richards, Franklin Wilson, Carlos Prowell, Garth Nelson, Ivan Persaud, Troy Mendonca and John Yates.
The Golden Jaguar banner was unveiled by Minister Dr. Anthony and Warner.
