Dear Editor,
The members of Saints Sports Club of St Ignatius Village in the Central Rupununi would like to officially recognize and congratulate one of our football players who has made it to the pinnacle of football in Guyana – selection to the senior national football team.
This player is none other than Mr Peter Parks, a true ‘Rupununian’ who, through hard work, discipline, commitment and sacrifice was able to overcome the extremely long odds to be one of the very few players from the hinterland to make it to the senior national football team.
Peter Parks comes from a family of football players, of which two other brothers – Daxton and Anthony Parks – also made it to the national team at the junior and U-23 levels. Even from his nursery days at the Saints Sports club, Peter showed the skills aligned with a discipline and commitment that earmarked him as a special player. It was his commitment and discipline that stood out as he continued to play football, even when studies and work commitments forced him to curtail his football playing schedule. Lesser individuals would have quit when the workload became too heavy. But Peter saw it as challenge since football was his true passion. There were many times when a panting and harried looking Peter Parks would arrive for a football match mere minutes before kickoff, because he had just finished an exam or his work was just completed. Yet his performance was rarely diminished.
Peter left for Georgetown in 2007 to commence studies at UG. It was a big blow for the Saints Sports club as we knew that we were losing our marquee player. But at the same time we also knew that this was a phase of his development that had to be undertaken. We took pride in the fact that no matter which club Peter played for in GT he would always be, first and foremost, a ‘Saints Man.’ But our club’s loss was another club’s gain as he joined a city club and continued playing football. It was with pride that we read of his exploits in Georgetown. It seemed that his switch from the hinterland to the coastland had a minimal impact on his football ability. If anything, it seemed to improve him as a player. This was very reassuring to the rest of the players at home as we knew that the standard of our hinterland football and that on the coastland were similar. It instilled in us the belief that we could be just as strong as any city team.
Peter’s elevation to the senior national team seemed inevitable. While still living in the Rupununi he had made it to the national team at the junior, U-20 and U-23 levels. So it seemed only a matter of time before he was selected to the senior squad.
But still, when Peter called and said that he had made it to the national team a surge of pride was felt in the club. One of us had made it to the top. His selection now served as an inspiration to the younger players. If Peter could have made it all the way to the top, then others could do the same.
Peter joins a very small club of players from the Rupununi who have made it to the national football team. The only other player is Mr Emerick Williams who hails from the Tabatinga Sports Club in Lethem. The general consensus among football knowledgables in the Rupununi, and indeed the entire hinterland, is that this list is so small because of lack of vision by the administrators to incorporate hinterland football more fully into the national structure. There is convincing evidence that for every player like Peter Parks or Emerick Williams, many others fall by the wayside due to lack of tangible support.
Peter Parks was one of the stand-out players during the recent tournament in Suriname where he scored two goals. He played against the legendary international player, Edgar Davids. That isn’t too bad for a player whose grassroots are from a little known football club called Saints in the Rupununi.
So, it is with great pride and honour that the members of Saints Sports Club offer their acknowledgement and congratulations to Mr Peter Parks, a born and bred ‘Saints Man,’ on his selection to the national team and wish him all of the best in his future endeavours.
Yours faithfully,
M Abraham
Chairman
Saints Sports Club
