The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) launched its ‘Wear Yellow’ campaign yesterday urging everyone to support the Golden Jaguars as they embark on their quest to top Group B when they face Trinidad and Tobago on November 11 at the Guyana National Stadium.
The Jaguars, unbeaten in their first four matches against Barbados and Bermuda, are on the verge of qualifying for the second round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers and must win their first game
to ensure they go through. The World Cup is scheduled for Brazil in 2014.
Guyana has a good chance of emerging atop of the group and at the launch acting GFF President Franklin Wilson and promotional group Kashif & Shanghai co-director Kashif Muhammad said that Guyanese should come out in their numbers. They also called on drummers from cultural groups to rock the stadium.
They are also urging boutique owners to display yellow outfits on mannequins.
Wilson added that it was relayed to him by a player after the away match in Barbados that when the crowd got into the game their spirits were lifted and the players were more relaxed.
“We are asking Guyana to be the 12th man, we are asking Guyana to come out and support big time in yellow. We are asking 12,000 people and more to come out and be 12th man for that occasion,” Muhammad said in the boardroom of the Ansa Mc Al office at Beterverwagting yesterday.
He added that the Kashif & Shanghai Organisation and the GFF will start a sustained public relations campaign to promote the Golden Jaguars. Tickets will also be given away during television programmes over the next two weeks.
Wilson lauded the efforts of the K&SO and revealed that the team will be going back into camp on Monday. He also indicated that he was pleased with the support that the team has received in the Diaspora and now it is the locals’ turn to do their bit.
“We don’t want Guyana to be excluded from this and as Kashif said we want the fans and spectators to be the 12th man for these two games. It is vital because you are part of the entire whole; you are a vital stakeholder in the process, apart from the GFF, the sponsors and other stakeholders.
We do not only want you to wear yellow, we want you to come out with your drums, placards and most of all come out with your voices. Let’s see a change in the culture of supporters at venues; you got to make noise,” Wilson emphasized. He also thanked Faizal Khan, a Sports Agent in England, and Colin Baker of the USA-based Guyana Sports Development Foundation, for their services in helping to identify new talents. Meanwhile, Stag Brand Manager John Maikoo said that Ansa Mc Al was committed to sport in Guyana and will continue to work with K&SO, GFF and the Golden Jaguars. The company is even more pleased to be associated with football, according to Maikoo, because there is a plan to lift the level of the sport. Chief Financial Officer of Guyana Telephone & Telegraph company Royston Raichpaul also said that his company was pleased to be associated with the development of football in Guyana. He said that GT&T has always been supportive of football in Guyana and said the federation can attest to that. He said that he was optimistic that the side will qualify for the next round and is keeping his fingers crossed that Guyana will qualify for the World Cup.
