Latest update May 6th, 2024 12:59 AM
Apr 16, 2016 Sports
By Franklin Wilson
The historic May 15 friendly international match between Guyana’s flagship senior team, The Golden Jaguars and Canada’s Olympic Under-23 team was officially launched yesterday in the Board Room of the
Guyana Football Federation.
Sharing the head table at the simple but significant occasion were the Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana Mr. Pierre Giroux, Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President Mr. Wayne Forde, Golden Jaguar Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz and Golden Jaguar Midfielder, Eon Alleyne.
Ambassador Giroux in expressing excitement about the match informed that the two nations are also celebrating 50-years of Diplomatic relations this year which makes the game ideal.
“This game fits very well with the series of events were doing with the Guyanese people to commemorate the very long relations, the very intense relations we’ve had historically.”
Giroux stated that more than 200,000 Guyanese have made Canada their home which helps Canada maintain a very strong people to people relationship.
“This game that will occur will actually be the expression of this long term relationship and friendship that exists between our two countries. So I am very happy to associate myself with this game and I do hope that it will be successful and exciting so I am looking forward to see all this.”
Forde in giving a brief background in relation to organizing the game informed that it is a partnership between the GFF and the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) with support from the other stakeholders involved. “It doesn’t impose any financial burden on the Guyana Football Federation.”
The GFF boss said that he was very pleased when the Government of Guyana contacted him to express a desire to have football as a key part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations.
“To me that was an expression that football as a unifying force was recognised by the government of Guyana as a very important staple in our national sports diet.”
Forde informed that the GFF’s International Sports Ambassador, Mr. Alex Bunbury was then contacted and informed of the Government’s intention and the GFF’s desire to play Canada.
“He {Bunbury} immediately reached out to the Canadian High Commissioner and they had some conversations and the rest is history, here we are today.”
“I want to use this opportunity to rally the Guyanese society around this game; this is a very important game. The Canadian U-23 team has qualified for the Olympics and that is no simple accomplishment. They are a very, very worthy opponent and they are going to be putting us to the test.”
Forde expressed gratitude to Ambassador Giroux for his efforts to date in facilitating the match whilst noting that he is looking forward to an exciting and competitive match on May 15, next.
Shabazz said his squad is very excited for the match which will provide a great opportunity for them to test the work that has been put in over the past couple of months against a formidable opponent, one of only three teams in CONCACAF to qualify.
The long standing Coach also noted that the game will not only prepare Guyana for the ongoing CFU tournament; it will also strengthen the local programme.
“When a team in CONCACAF plays a Caribbean opponent in a friendly match it shows that they understand how we build and how we work together because many times, even among the Caribbean teams who are not high up right now when they ask other Caribbean teams who high up right now, they don’t want to play.”
Shabazz posited that the gesture by Canada in the nature of brotherhood shows vision and understanding that in CONCACAF we have to grow together.
All the players Shabazz noted have shown interest in wanting to be on the squad. He expressed gratitude to the government of Guyana for including football as part of the celebratory activities for Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary (Golden Jubilee); Mr. Pierre Giroux, President of the Canadian Soccer Association Mr. Victor Montagliani, Canadian Soccer Hall of Famer Mr. Alex Bunbury and President of the GFF, Mr. Wayne Forde for their combined efforts towards making the game a reality.
Alleyne in brief remarks said he was speechless noting that is a great opportunity for him and teammates as it is a dream come true.
“I never thought that I would be playing at this level against a team like Canada. I want to thank everyone, thank God for life, strength and everything. Right now I am at eh peak of my career and I just want to make this exciting.”
The GFF had indicated before their wish to have Guyana’s most successful team, the ‘Lady Jags’ play here also but Forde stated that logistic challenges among others put paid to the idea.
Lady Jags Head Coach Mark Rodrigues had informed whilst the team played in the CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship in Texas in February, that he had initiated talks with Argentina.
“You know, that is a heightened period when they are a lot of visitors coming into Guyana, so there are many logistic issues in terms of hotels, accommodation, there are several issues that we were unable to overcome to have the Lady Jags be part of the Independence activity,” Forde informed.
Men’s EXCEL U-23 side will suit up for the match which the CSA said would serve as an important step in accumulating experience for some of the nation’s young, exceptional players, all with an eye towards Canada’s Men’s National Team and the road to Russia 2018 and beyond.
GRA catch EXXON trying to hunch GUYANA over 11 BUS dollars in one shot!!!!
May 06, 2024
(CMC) – West Indies lead selector, Desmond Haynes and white-ball head coach, Daren Sammy, said they were confident that the right squad was selected for the ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup next...Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News – In his address to the 32nd Congress of the People’s Progressive Party, Second... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]