Dear Editor,
When I saw the SN October 5 headline, ‘Decision to be made on venue for finals,’ and in the October 26 issue Kashif Muhammed saying: “In a nutshell we have been unable to offer fans and players an environment befitting the finals of a prestigious football tournament,” I was not the least surprised. In the KN ‘Linden the brainchild of initiatives’ (21.3.05) I had said “… it will, in not too distant future say goodbye to the staging of the finals… it is inevitable, it is just a matter of time.”
This event has taken a quantum leap, and on the completion of the National Stadium, the organizers will certainly not be governed by sentiment.
Better facilities and accommodation will be key factors, as well as financial returns among other things. Well, as we all know nothing is permanent except change, be it for good or bad.
But when I became aware that it was imminent − like most Lindeners I heard it through the grapevine – some things started to creep through my mind.
There were some who reflected with sadness on the removal of the finals and why this should be. This community not only gave birth to this grand event, but sustained it through the years. How could they now say, “Slam, bam, thank you ma’am.”
These two brothers, Kashif and Shanghai, know the community and its people. They were nurtured by it, they know the economic situation and the economic enhancement this main sporting event on our calendar brings – even if briefly. It gives some a good business start to the New Year, and they look out for it.
In terms of attendance this event has always had the McKenzie Sports Club (MSC) ground bursting at its seams; it transforms the town into a kind of carnival, with invasions from all parts of this country and from Lindeners overseas. This is why I found it amusing when Mr Mohammed said “The MSC has seen attendance reduced by more than 33% over the years”!
“Cramped and substandard facilities” Yes! Reduced attendance No!
I saw in part a TV programme in which the Kashif/Shanghai executive invited a number of personalities and other stakeholders to present their case, and it left one to wonder why the executives of the MSC, prime stakeholders, did not see it fit to be present and inform the public of their role/position. This was an inexcusable absence. However at that meeting Mr Muhammed informed the public of an extensive and elaborate expansion to the tune of approximately $140-50M that was being proposed; what a pity this wasn’t done some years ago.
As I said before this move has been a long time coming; Kashif/Shanghai was not between a rock and a hard place as was stated, for the placing of this finals, this was well thought out and settled a long time ago.
Indeed many of the reasons given at that meeting were valid and the MSC must take the flogging for it. The MSC facilities have been in a deplorable state below acceptable standards for far too long. The writing was on the wall, so how come they couldn’t see it? It was imperative that something be done. (There has since last year been some improvement in the toilet facilities with the help of Linden Economic Advancement Project.) Foreign based Lindeners upon returning home are forever complaining how scandalous the facilities of the MSC are, and the executives need to do much better to improve the image of this club, which former West Indian Cricketer Basil Butcher once remarked was among the best in the Caribbean that he had seen. The claim is also made that the game has outgrown the community; yet, if the plans outlined by Kashif had been done, then the transferring of the finals would have proved more challenging. The MSC is the Mecca of sport in Linden; it is the community ground, our landmark, and the executives need to understand that and act accordingly.
It is to the credit of Kashif/ Shanghai that they have pledged to do some things for the Linden football enthusiasts to compensate for the change, though I still somehow harbour a suspicion that we will eventually see the return of the finals – soon.
Well as the song says, “Parting is hard, it hurts to see you go,” but life goes on and so too Linden folks must move on. ‘When one door closes another opens.’ And while Lindeners can take some pride and comfort in being the initiators of great events that have become national events, they should also by now have become accustomed to desertion – Mash, Town Day, Kashif/Shanghai, Fish Festival were all Linden initiatives. The town will not die; people will survive; everything is going to eventually work out fine.
And may I extend best wishes to those two brothers – the organizers − and commend them for their endurance.
Yours faithfully,
Frank Fyffe
