Guyana’s veteran football players will clash with their counterparts from Suriname on Sunday and Tuesday in two benefit matches for three veteran football players who have fallen on hard times.
The players are Birdette Marshall, Compton Julian and Godfrey Norville.
Norville is the organizer of the matches. The event received sponsorship from Western Union on Friday and Norville was grateful for the sponsorship.
“Today we want to thank you Western Union very much for this donation which is a push for us. We are playing a football game for three disabled players, ex British Guiana players and Guyana players.” Marshall, a former President Guard, like Norville, is visually impaired.
Norville said he was in contact with the money transfer company since last year and they have agreed to outfit 22 players with uniforms.
This, said Norville, will help the players to be properly attired when they compete against Suriname.
The Suriname players are expected to arrive in Guyana on Saturday.
“They will play their first game on Sunday at GFC Football Ground where the team will meet the Suriname Ambassador.” Norville also disclosed that Tueday’s match will pit the Surinamese against a team comprising several former national players such as
Ken Gibbs, Richard Ying, Terrence Archer, Vibert ButtS, Basil Wynn and Rudolph ‘Chow’ Hunte.
The former Guyanese veteran players will practice at the Georgetown Football Club ground on Sunday morning before their game at 3pm. Western Union’s Marketing Manager Natheeah King-Mendonca said the company was merely responding to the need of the veterans.
“Come February 24th we will be supporting them in a big way and of course Western Union being an international brand and the veterans will be wearing our brand which is an indication that we value football very much in Guyana. We feel very good because of the cause we are supporting. It’s a fund raising event to give support to veterans who need somewhere to live. These are people who need our help be it however small or large you should come on board to give them the kind of support they need at this time in their lives, “said King, adding that it was her fervent hope that tournament does meet its intended objectives as outlined by Norville.
