Letter to the Sports Editor…Buxton Utd’s victory in K&S Finals is commendable

Jan 12, 2013 Sports

Dear Editor,
Upon entering the Red Stand of the National Stadium Providence, during the course of the third place playoff between eventual winners, Alpha United and Pele (4th ), on the evening of January 1, 2013, and ahead of the finals of the 23rd edition of the Annual Kashif & Shanghai K.O, in pursuit of exchanging greetings for the New Year, with well wishers, my visitation was intended to be brief, but I couldn’t have avoided the bellowing voice of a Buxtonian daughter, Miss Sherry Abrams, who immediately after exchanging greetings handed to me a copy of the “Buxton Battle Song”.
She implored upon me its publication, as a tribute to Buxton’s victory. As a consequence it would be a great disservice to my late father and elder: Eusi Kwayana, whose letters and articles in the newspapers never escape my reading.
In one of those articles many years ago, mention was made of my late father B. H. Sealey in a positive light of which I’m eternally grateful.
The Buxton Battle Song
Thou wilt not cower in the dust
Buxton my own native land,
Thy glorious name shall never rust,
Oh Buxton my own native land.
Remember Fredericks, yes we must,
The Buxton Scholarship his thrust.
And now he slumbers in the dust,
In Buxton my own native land
And now may every girl and boy,
In Buxton my own native land,
His heart and brain all day employed,
In Buxton my own native land.
To add to our illustrious line
Of sons and daughters who all time,
Give of their best that you may shine
For Buxton my own native land.
Editor, in assessing Buxton’s passage to the finals, it must be outlined that in my estimation the Buxtonians had a tougher draw in the top half, consisting of reigning national club champions Alpha “The Hammer United” and runner-up counterparts B.K Int. Western Tigers; Rosignol United, Timehri Panthers, BV/Triumph, Winners Connection and Grove Hi Tech. The bottom half consisted of: Amelia Ward (losing finalist), Mill Ballers, Milerock, Den Amstel, Silver Shattas, Uitvlugt, Buxton Stars and Pele.
Winners Connection, 2-1 in the first round; Western Tigers, 1-0 in the quarterfinals; Alpha United, also 1-0 in the semifinals; and finally Amelia’s Ward, 5-4 in a “sudden death” penalty shootout, after a goalless stalemate in regulation and extra time, of the finals.
In the four matches played the 23rd edition winner scored five goals; conceded one, for a goal difference of +4, with an average of 1.1 goals scored per match.
Runner-up, Amelia’s Ward also conceded a solitary goal; this may be historical for both finalists, in addition to being the joint Best Defensive Teams. The Most Valuable Player (M.V.P); Best Coach and the Fair Play Award are among the other trophies and prizes carted off by the East Coast Lineup.
Meanwhile, the camaraderie display by the Buxtonians was commendable. On Boxing Night it began on their home turf the Buxton Community Centre ground, the toothless Tigers lost their stripes, in a 0-1 quarterfinals loss.
And three days later also at the same venue, in the semifinals Alpha United’s sledge hammer was reduced to a “rubber” hammer.
The star – studded lineup boasting previous and present national players both at the junior and senior level, also lost by a 0-1 margin. Nevertheless, it was a good gesture by Alpha’s President, Odinga Lumumba, also a Buxtonian, to donate a quantity of football gears to Buxton United.
Likewise Sherry Abrams, who placed Buxton first and for most in lending her support, incidentally, the individual is the coach of Buxton Stars that also participated in the tournament, but was a first round casualty.
And from a historical perspective Sherry is the only female, who coaches an all-male team locally; in addition to Buxton having two teams from the same village participating in major competitions.
Former coach, Lyndon France receives special mention along with present Secretary, Eton Moses for molding the unit, despite the adversities. While Fruta Conquerors and Camptown for providing weekly practice matches must also receive mention, along with their respective former coaches Deryck Whyte and Desmond Alfred.
However, it was Fruta Conquerors, in 2003 that invited Buxton Utd to participate in the Fruta Conquerors Challenge Cup Round-Robin K.O Under-15.  Editor, it must also be noted that this was further extended in 2008, under the Troy Mendonca led GFA administration, the best in Georgetown, for a very longtime.
It was the former Hon. Secretary, Marlan Cole, who lobbied extensively for Buxton United, to participate in GFA Youth Competitions.
Two consecutive Courts sponsored under-13 PEE-Wee Competitions in addition to a Beepat sponsored Milo Under-20 paved the way for Buxton’s overall development.  Importantly, it must be noted that the East Coast lineup’s participation was during the years of dormancy in youth football on the East Coast.
Buxton and Buxtonians be proud of your product-Buxton United. The administrative, coaching and managerial staff; the years of dedication and perseverance has finally paid off!
And last but not least the players namely: Clive Andries, Denvor Dennis and Michael Phyll all of whom I can vividly recall from 2003-2008. Salutations for the commitment and dedication to the sport of football, since within the 10 years of completing a cycle of total development, victory in a major competition was achieved.
Maybe, the Guyana Football Federation, that receives an annual subvention of Guy$50,000,000 from FIFA, until now cannot have a ten year development plan in place.
Lester Sealey