Newly elected President of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU), Ryan Dey has aspirations to once again make the discipline the envy of many across the 592 and the Region.
He told Stabroek Sport yesterday that his victory on February 9 presents an opportunity for his administration to ensure Guyana’s rugby reassumes the level it deserves.
Dey succeeded Peter Green as President after the latter did not seek re-election following two two-year terms.
He was selected at the helm of the local governing body by 19 delegates at the GRFU’s AGM which was held at the National Resource Centre. He was opposed by Earl Edghill who had 12 votes.
The 30 year-old former national player stated that he has witnessed the steady decline of the sport and during the next few days, he will engage his team to begin the journey of rebuilding the Regional powerhouse Team Guyana once was.
“I am looking forward to drive the promotion and development of sport in Guyana through my presence at the helm” said the former Assistant Secretary/Treasurer of the union.
Dey noted that the lack of funding was the main reason the sport has declined. He stated that there will be “several fund raising activities as well as vigorously seeking the intervention of government and the private sector.”
The Resource Planning Officer attached to the Guyana Forestry Commission pointed out that “there is a lot of work to be done” but his young executive body is prepared for the task.
The new GRFU boss outlined that the union will be embarking on employing more Youth Development Officers (YDO) to aid in the development of the sport at the grass roots level and in schools.
“There will be an active Youth Development Programme and we will be targeting more schools across the country to sensitise them about rugby. Once there are more people involved, the sport will develop.”
He added “We will also have more domestic tournaments and also rugby would no longer be played in an ad hoc manner, we will have a season.”
Dey concluded that once there is an all hands on deck approach, the vision of the union can be realised. (Emmerson Campbell)
Below is the list of persons elected to serve the two-year term
President – Ryan Dey
Senior Vice-President – Joshua Griffith
Junior Vice-President – Kevon David
Public Relations Officer – Godfrey Broomes
Secretary – Terrence Grant
Treasurer – Quacy Bremner
Assistant Secretary/Treasurer – Tiffany Spencer
Michael Whitehead – Committee Member
Natasha Andrews – Committee Member
Sherlock Sam – Committee Member
Shane Grant-Stuart – Committee Member
