By Treiston Joseph
The 40th anniversary celebrations for the Pele Football Club continued yesterday with a luncheon in honor of Lennox Arthur and Clyde Browne founder and co-founder of the club at the Cara Lodge Suite, on Quamina Street.
The anniversary celebrations which is set to last for one week, was organized by the Pele Alumni consisting of past greats of the club.
The Opening Ceremony took place last Sunday at Georgetown Football Club (GFC) Ground and a number of other activities are planned for this week.
At the Opening Ceremony remarks were made by President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Colin Klass who challenged the club to get back their players into the educational realm and also to attach themselves to some school while President of the club and former national goalkeeper Cecil `Carey’ Jacques gave the welcome.
At the Opening Ceremony, there was a reflection on each decade since the birth of the club in 1971 to date former midfield player Keith Michael making remarks on the 1970’s, Coach of the current Pele Club, Gordon Braithwaite doing the 1980’s, Mark Joseph and Jacques doing the 1990’s and while Rawle Jones did from 2000 to the present.
The luncheon was held to honor Arthur also known as “Mulling,” and Browne aka “Farmer.”
Jacques disclosed that the well established club has never been dropped from first division football status in the country over its 40 years of existence.
Both former national players received a gold ring with a green crystal that had the Pele logo sign engraved inside the crystal.
Michael, who performed the duties of the Master of Ceremony for the proceedings introduced Dennis Carrington who made the presentation of the ring to Browne.
“You never know where you’ll end up once you get something started, it’s not the end result that matters but it’s the journey that counts and I must pay homage to my wife for working with me through this and also to “Mulling,” the overseas-based Guyanese declared.
“I would like to see us have our own soccer field or stadium so in the next five years or so I could come and say this is our own,” Browne added.
Michael then introduced Patrick Lewis who was deemed as Pele’s most successful captain to date to present the ring to founder of the club, Arthur.
“I’m happy and overjoyed but to tell you the truth I saw Pele being here in this position for 40 years,” Arthur stated.
Most members of the club spoke of the discipline instilled in them by both Browne and Arthur and thanked the former national players for their support which most insisted has gotten them to the point there are currently at while they pledged their support to the Pele club especially the youth aspect of the club.
The week of activities will continue today at the GFC ground from 17:00hrs with a double header between the US Alumni players and the GFC masters while Pele will take on Santos Football Club in the re-introduction of the Brazilian Cup which was started in 1973.
