By Charwayne Walker
The first time the Guyana Senior National Football team played at the Concucaf level was September 1971. The national team, playing under the captaincy of Thomas United’s Ken Gibbs, lost their CONCACAF debut 1-4 to Suriname at the National Stadium in Paramaribo.
Santos’ Vibert ‘Cardo’ Williams scored Guyana’s lone goal. In the return fixture played a week later at the world famous Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground, Bourda, Suriname won a thriller 3-2. Guyana’s marksmen were Robert ‘Bobby’ Fernandes and 17-year-old Christ Church Secondary School student, Clyde ‘Wolly’ Forde.
The historic Guyana CONCACAF 1971 squad
Ken Gibbs (captain) – Thomas United
Alvin Braithwaite Geronimo (vice-captain) – Malteenoes
Edward Calder (goalkeeper) – Police
Clive ‘Farmer’ Browne – Santos
Robert ‘Bobby’ Fernandes – Georgetown Football Club
Gordon ‘Moneyman’ Forde – Thomas United
Clyde ‘Wolly’ Forde – Thomas United
Ovid Henry – Santos
Maurice Enmore – Santos
Earl O’Neil – Thomas United
Vibert ‘Cardo’ Williams – Santos
Dennis Humphrey
Lloyd King – Thomas United
Michael Pierre – Thomas United
Winston Grant (goalkeeper) – Thomas United
George Green (coach)
Derek Whitehead (manager)
Alhough 51 years have come and gone, we should pay homage to Ken Gibbs’ boys who set the stage for our 2022 CONCACAF stars who are currently flying the Golden Arrow Head. It is hoped that they would draw inspiration from these 1971 trail blazers.
And for those curious readers, Mexico won the 1971 concacaf championship, Haiti was runner up Costa Rice placed third, and Cuba fourth.