1987 football fiasco revisited…
Guyana’s Golden Jaguars will oppose a Mexico national football team today as the third round qualifying campaign in North, Central America and the Caribbean for Brazil 2014 kicks off today with a number of contests.
Today’s game will be only the second time that a Guyana international team would have played a game in Mexico.
The inaugural game between Guyana and Mexico national football teams took place on December 4, 1987 in Los Angeles.
That match, recalls, Charwayne Walker was an Olympic Qualifier.
“Unlike now, Olympic Qualifiers back then did not have age limits,” said Walker.
Back then, Mexico was ranked number six by FIFA, the world governing body for football.
That historical 1987 game was won 9-0 by Mexico simply because 14 members of the national football team absconded before the game while some absconded afterwards.
Those that absconded before the game were Terrence `Junior’ George, Rupert `Chop Eye’ Gordon, Trevor `Lanny’ Maxwell, Colin ‘Kallaman’ Pollard, Broderick Murray, Elson `Chiddi Kong’ Hinckson, Ingram Halley, Anthony `Brains’ Bowen, Nigel `Mice’ Cummings, David Kistoo, Neil O’ Choa, and Shawn `Putty’ Williams, recalls Walker.
Those participating in the game were Adrian `The Ballerina’ Forde, goalkeeper Gerald Williams, skipper Terrence Archer, Deon `Bad Boy’ Barnwell, Eon `Lasher Man’ Williams, Godfrey Gibbons and Lawrence `Coachie’ Arjune.
Coach of the 1987 team Lennox `Mulling’ Arthur recalls that game.
“We did not have a team really. All the best players had absconded,” Arthur remembers.
“I only had 11 players so I did not have any changes. One player came back the same day (Adrian Forde) as we only had 10 and had he not returned we might not have played the game,” recalls Arthur.
Management team asked to suit up
As a precautionary measure, Arthur, then a high ranking official of the national football federation, made several members of the management team don football gears just in case they were required to play.
“I ordered Maurice John (because I was vice president of the FA) who was the manager to put on gears, I put `Pug’ (assistant coach Mervyn Wilson) in gears and I put Major Atherley on standby,” Arthur recalled.
Looking ahead to today’s game Arthur voiced his concern over the issue of high altitude. Arthur feels that the high altitude in Mexico could cause a bit of a problem for the Golden Jaguars.
He remembers the high altitude factor affecting his team when they played against Guatemala back then as his players experienced tremendous problems.
“When we went to Guatemala in the first game `Coachie” Lawrence Arjune and all the guys started to bleed through their noses and a set of problems but by the time we played them second time we tear they skin,” recalled Arthur.
“I think the FF has done a good job in getting them fellas to play those practice games,” he stated adding (Colin) Klass himself told me that we are not playing at the Aztec Stadium (Estadio Azteca), we will be playing at another stadium where the ground level is a little better for breathing.”
If they do well today they will be able to do better at home. I like Guyana against anybody at home. I have always felt that way even when I was a player I am of the firm belief that with the crowd support at home Guyana can beat anybody,” Arthur said.
Green’s take
Hamilton Green, Minister of Sport during that period, yesterday recalls the lead up to Guyana’s opening game against Mexico.
“At that time there was great excitement about the prospect of Guyana playing away. I think the guys played to the best of their ability. The team we have now I think, on hand, is a better team than we had then and I have no doubt that if they can effectively coordinate, ensure that they don’t miss any shots particularly when they get in front of the goal, we should give Mexico a lesson in what a good old North and South American team can do.
Questioned as to the impact the absconding of 14 footballers had on Guyana’s football Green said:”“This is not a new problem, we had footballers, and we had boxers when I was minister ….. The problem has to do with the perception by our sportsmen that they can do better abroad and what is tragic is that a number of their friends abroad encourage them to abscond. I remember giving instructions to the managers to hold the passports but to the best of my knowledge that did not make a difference. It has to do with our whole approach to sport and how we can develop a sense of patriotism among young people. This has to come from deep down inside, the parents and the sports ministry,” he ended.
Mexico, the defending CONCACAF champions, will pose a stern test for the Golden Jaguars especially after their most recent 2-0 win over a Brazil U-23 side.
They are undoubtedly the region’s standard-bearers and possess a star-studded team with players such as Gio Dos Santos, Andres Guardado and Javier Chicharito Hernandez.
Guyana will depend a lot on the English professionals the Cort brothers Leon and Carl along with Ricky Shakes.
The 1987 team:- Terrence Archer (Pele, Captain), Oswald Taylor (Pele), Ingram Halley (GNS Ajax), Rupert Gordon (Western Tigers), Trevor Maxwell (Western Tigers), Deon Barnwell (Thomas United), Junior George (Thomas United), David Kistoo (Thomas United), Eon Williams (Thomas United), Nigel `Mice’ Cummings (Botofago), Adrian Forde (Police), Colin Pollard (deceased, GDF), Gerald Williams (Western Tigers), Elson Hinckson (deceased, GDF), Neil O’ Choa (Camptown), Broderick Murray (GDF), Shawn Williams (deceased, Conquerors) Godfrey Gibbons (deceased, Santos), Anthony Bowen (Western Tigers) and Lawrence Arjune (Camptown).
Accompanying the team were Lennox Arthur, coach, Mervyn Pug Wilson, assistant coach, Maurice John, manager, Sharon Harper, physiotherapist and Major Michael Atherley, president of the Guyana Football Association.
