By Charwayne Walker
The football fraternity in Guyana was overjoyed recently with the timely visit of FC Barcelona and Denmark International Martin Braithwaite’s presence in the 83,000 square miles, a tremendous morale booster to the young budding stars of the future.
Martin Braithwaite was born in Denmark. His father is a Guyanese, Keith Braithwaite and although the senior Braithwaite never featured prominently in football on the local scene, the Braithwaite name in Guyana football is legendary. It’s important that young Martin knows about the predecessors that carried that famous last name.
The Barcelona star probably never heard of the name Hubert ‘Senor’ Braithwaite. ‘Senor’ as he was popularly called, played on the local scene for the Police Football Club. The center-back made his international debut for British Guiana against Trinidad in Port-of-Spain in 1949.
After several impressive overseas tours to Suriname [1951], Aruba [1952], and Brazil [1954], he was elevated to the national captaincy in 1958 when British Guiana toured Suriname.
After the 1959 quadrangular tournament in Trinidad, Braithwaite was named the most outstanding defender. Not surprisingly, he and three of his compatriots, Compton Julien, George Green (deceased) and Monty Hope, were selected to tour the United Kingdom in 1959 with the first West Indies Football team.
Braithwaite played his last international series for the Land of Many Waters in 1966, a career that lasted 17 years. Another Braithwaite that served the land of the majestic Kaieteur Falls with distinction is Alvin ‘Geronimo’ Braithwaite. Geronimo played for several clubs on the local scene including Sandbach Parker, Malteenoes, and Thomas United.
He made his debut as a central defender in 1963 against Barbados in Bridgetown after several years of outstanding performances at home and overseas. `Geronimo’ Braithwaite was selected to represent the Caribbean football team against the touring English Football team Hull City at the world-famous GCC Bourda in May 1973.
His most memorable match came against Suriname in 1976 in Guyana’s World Cup qualifier debut. This outstanding defender played his final international against Curacao at GCC, Bourda in 1976. Gordon ‘Ultimate Warrior’ Braithwaite, like his predecessors, made his international debut as a central defender in 1977 against Trinidad & Tobago at Mackenzie Sports Club Ground.
After his debut, he was named Guyana’s MVP, a performance that catapulted him to the 1977 Footballer-of-the-Year award. The following year, the former Queen’s College standout won a scholarship to Clemson University.
Braithwaite made his World Cup Qualifier debut against Grenada at GCC Bourda in April 1980 and his goal from the penalty spot led Guyana’s recovery after being two goals down. Guyana went on to win 5-2.
He was elevated to the National captaincy in 1984 against India at GCC Bourda. This outstanding utility player played his last international match for Guyana against Suriname at Camp Ayanganna in 1985. Braithwaite was appointed Guyana National Coach in 1991 and immediately had a big impact, as Guyana reached its first Caribbean Championships finals in Jamaica, finishing fourth.
`The Ultimate’ Braithwaite is probably the only man to play in a World Cup qualifier as team captain and coach a World Cup qualifier team. Another Braithwaite, Mark of Camptown Football Club also represented Guyana with distinction.
