By Tamica Garnett
A benevolent overseas-based Guyanese, Dale Matil, has extended a kind hand to the Renaissance Football Club located in his former neighbourhood, East Ruimveldt.
Matil has decided to donate some much-needed football gear and, according to Rodwell Jemmot, coach and founder of the club, the contribution will be a welcome boost since the club had been trying to acquire equipment since its launch some three years ago.
Jemmot, a member of the East Ruimveldt community and a former junior national player, said that he founded the club in order to promote a positive outlet for the youths of the community.
“It’s to keep the youths in the community doing something positive instead of getting into things on the streets,” Jemmot stated.
“We try to develop them into all-round individuals emphasizing on academics, developing proper morals and exercising discipline,” he added.
The club, Jemmot noted, is affiliated to the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) and has approximately 45 members between the ages of 8 – 18 years.
And, although the members are all males, Jemmot said that they have in the past tried to reach out to the female community as well.
The youngsters practice at the East Ruimveldt Community Center Ground.
Matil stated that upon a visit to his homeland last year he was moved by the work that his former Pelé Football Club colleague was doing for the East Ruimveldt community and for the disadvantaged youths residing there.
“There are a lot of underprivileged youngsters there and he is doing a very good job of keeping them off the streets and out of trouble. He is making a telling contribution to the East Ruimveldt community and to society on the whole,” Matil stated.
Matil was born in East Ruimveldt and resided there until he migrated to England in 1979.
He recalled that during his trip back home last year he was able to see the dire need of the club while the youths were in a practice session.
Subsequently, on his return to his adopted homeland, Matil began sending back gear to support and encourage the young men.
“Most of the kids there didn’t have proper equipment, I saw them playing barefooted so I decided to help by sending some shoes and clothing and other football gears back to assist them,” Matil stated.
This time around Matil is looking to donate more substantial gear to the club to help his longtime friend in his venture of developing the community and Guyana at large.
“I was pleased to see someone that I grew up with making a contribution to the community that I grew up in and I hope that others would do the same throughout Guyana,” Matil said.
He will be handing over the gear to the club at a presentation ceremony scheduled for the East Ruimveldt Community Center on Monday.