By Charwayne Walker
The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) says that it will honour those national footballers that returned to Guyana after participating in an Olympic Qualifier against Mexico in Los Angeles in 1987.
On November 20, 1987, a 26-member squad of 20 players and six officials, left Guyana to oppose Mexico in two matches of the Olympic Qualifying tournament.
The Guyana team lost the match 0-9 which was played December 2 in California, USA and 14 footballers from the 20 man squad defected some before and some after the match.
When the contingent returned home after being ordered to do so following the defections, only Lennox `Mulling’ Arthur, Mervyn `Pug’ Wilson (assistant coach, deceased), Maurice John, manager, Michael Atherley, (GFA president) Sheron Harper (physiotherapist, ) and Keith Michael Austin (Interpreter) returned along with six players.
The players that absconded were Trevor `Lanny’ Maxwell (deceased) Rupert `Chop Eye’ Gordon, Gerald Williams, Anthony `Brains’ Bowen, deceased, Adrian Forde, Colin `Kallaman’ Pollard, Ingram Halley, Nigel `Mice’ Cummings, Broderick Murray, Shawn `Putty’ Williams, Elson `Chiddi Kong’ Hinckson, deceased, Neil O’Choa, David Kistoo, and Junior George. Following the defections, Attorney-at-Law, Stanley Moore was ordered to do an inquiry.
Last week, the GFF met with three of the six players that returned, Eon `Lasher Man’ Williams, Lawrence `Coachie’ Arjoon and Deon Barnwell at the GFF headquarters, Dadawana Street, Campbellville.
The other players who will be honoured by the GFF will be skipper, Terrence Archer, Oswald `Ossie’ Taylor and the late Godfrey Gibbons.
Following the abscondment by the players, the GFF was suspended by FIFA and fined for failing to honour its obligation of playing the return match against Mexico.
Also, as a result of the suspension, Guyana could not participate in the 1990 World Cup Qualifiers.
