Dear Editor,
I attended the Guyana Football Federation campaign launch for World Cup 2014 on My 12, at the Princess Hotel. This public promotion of our Golden Jaguars football team must be highly commended, and the President (ag), Mr Franklyn Wilson applauded for organizing such an excellent event. As a football enthusiast, I also applaud the sponsors, Ansa Mc Al, Caribbean Airlines, Demerara Distillers Limited, Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company, Bakewell and Humphreys Bakery for their generosity.
Minister of Sport Dr Frank Anthony reminded us that sport can be a useful tool for national cohesion, as he appealed to all concerned to pool their resources. The Minister also called upon the media to help, but what old folks used to say was, ‘Wa mouth na load,’ meaning it is not what you say, but what is done.
I made the following suggestions: For starters, let the Minister press the cabinet to allow all television channels to cover the games from the Corentyne to the North West to the Rupununi.
Second, that many of the public open spaces be developed in urban and rural areas, so that there are lots of open spaces for our young boys and girls to play soccer and hold other activities.
Fortunately, with some coaching and being given the basic rudiments and rules of the game, youngsters can be involved in football in any open space even without goalposts.
Thirdly, with assistance from the Guyana Football Federation and various local authorities, the Ministry of Education should put a structured programme in place, so we have kids playing football from kindergarten up.
All this, of course, will require some financial outlay to prepare the grounds, but at this time, finances from the government ought not to be a problem. What is needed is the will and the commitment to help a sporting discipline which is in Guyana’s interest. It can be a useful outlet for ordinary, and in some cases, underprivileged children in every community. In most countries, the lottery funds are allocated to sports and culture. This is what we want to hear our lottery funds being used for.
In addition, the government should stop NICIL disposing of lands and property which can, or ought to be reserved for use by several communities for the enjoyment, relaxation and promotion of sports.
The coach, Mr Shabaz, who spoke, hinted at the need to remove petty politics from sports. If we are serious, I am sure the opposition would support any move providing funds are managed by independent, honest and credible individuals and groups, to see more put into football and other sporting and cultural activities.
Mr Minister, wa mouth na load.
Yours faithfully,
Lennox Arthur
Former National Football Player
Football Coach & Organizer of
soccer tournaments
