By Iva Wharton
Riddim Squad Football Club (FC) will be donating its winnings from the Banks President Beer Tournament to the family of Shaquille Grant to assist with his burial.
Riddim Squad finished fourth in the Banks President’s Beer Tournament and walked away with a $200,000 cash prize and a trophy.
Mark Xavier, President of Riddim Squad Football Club, in an exclusive interview with Stabroek Sport, said that Grant, who was shot last Tuesday by Police in Agricola, was a member of the club. According to Xavier, the teen, who had dreams of becoming a member of the Guyana Police Force, was a midfielder.
“They told him to come back when he was 18 and he could join, so every time he sees me he would say that my birthday was coming up and I will be going in.”
Xavier said donating the winnings to the family was not a difficult but was the right decision because Grant was a lover of the sport and believed in the team he represented at both the junior and senior levels.
Xavier said the money will be donated to the family very shortly. Meanwhile, Coach Lloyd Millington, who Stabroek Sport found at Grant’s house yesterday, said that Grant was with the team since the under 16 level. Grant, he said, had played two matches the last of which was the Banks President’s Beer in which he contributed to their fourth place.
“He was always a willing player, one you could bet your dollar that he is one of the players who would be ensuring the equipment was packed up or one who you could have gotten to run an errand.”
Grant’s death he said was a great loss to the team as he was part of their family.
The family indicated that they are in the process of finalizing funeral arrangements but Grant could be buried either on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. `
