Dear Editor,
The Kashif and Shanghai football tournament got under way recently and the Guyanese public is eagerly awaiting the matches of this lucrative and prestigious tournament. Commendation and credit must be given to the organizers, Mr Mohammed and Mr Major, as well as their coordinators and their entire staff; the business community, especially Banks DIH, Mohammed Enterprise; and all the other sponsors who have over the years contributed in a tangible way to the continued success of this event. Mention must also be made of the participating clubs, their players and the spectators; the Ministry of Sport must also share some of the accolades and praise.
But after 22 consecutive years the question is, why no football club from Region 2 or even a single game has ever been played in this region that is so populated.
While cricket remains our number one sport in the country, football in my opinion is not too far behind, and with the FIFA World Cup to be held in neighbouring Brazil shortly, a lot more interest will be generated in this sport. I am certain that Mr Alfro Alphonso, BK International, Mohammed Enterprise, Imam Bacchus and Sons, Roopan Ramoutar Investment, Ramzan Alli Khan Rice Milling Complex and many others will be happy to provide sponsorship or to assist in any other way to have a couple of matches played in this region and a combined Region 2 team participating. To this end the Region 2 administration must also get on board. We all know that there was a time when two first class cricket matches used to be played in this region. That is now a thing of the past, and I will not even attempt to suggest why. I know it is to the displeasure of the people of this region that it was discontinued. I will leave that to the wrangling faction of the Guyana Cricket Board, or to be more precise, the Essequibo Cricket Board.
I know because it is public knowledge that football is the most popular and by far the most lucrative team sport the world over.
A lot of people follow the Barclays Premier league, Series A and La-Liga played in England, Italy and Spain respectively. I am certain that all the people in Region 2 and the entire country will be extremely happy to have a combined Essequibo football team playing a match in this region; a piece of history would be created.
Yours faithfully,
Archie Cordis
