Once again, the football fraternity in Guyana is in a state of sadness following the tragic passing of Western Tigers’ footballer Sheldon ‘Popeye Jones’ Levi who, along with his wife, died on the spot following an accident yesterday morning.
Levi’s death follows hot on the heels of the passing of another footballer and former national player Neil Hernandez, a member of the Golden Jaguars, as the national football team is called, who died tragically when fire gutted his Bartica home earlier this month.
When Stabroek Sport visited the home of the deceased in Shirley Filed Ridley square yesterday, a sad sound of wailing greeted the ear as news of their tragic death spread around the streets of Georgetown.
Many football fans and players gathered at his residence to offer their condolences to his mother, Jennifer Levi, who could not hold back the tears as she was offered words of sympathy from those who came and found it hard to come to grips with the deaths.
Through teary eyes, Jennifer Levi informed this reporter about her last meal taken with her son and what a joyful occasion it was.
“We had breakfast this morning together as a family. His wife, who came in yesterday (Saturday), himself and I all sat at the table and ate sharing a few jokes at the same time. Who would have thought that after such a joyful moment, this sort of sorrow would follow?”
Recalling the memories of her second child, whom she gave birth to on August 30, 1974, Jennifer Levi told this reporter that she could not have asked for a better son if given the opportunity to do so.
“He was always willing and readily made himself available to do any chore he was asked to regardless of the time. Once it did not interfere with his football duties, you can always count on Sheldon,” the grieving mother said.
The 33-year-old Levi plied his football trade first for Beacon Football Club for much of his junior years before joining the West Ruimveldt-based club from the age of 18.
He even made the Georgetown team at the senior level and played his last game for Western Tigers on Friday against Alpha United Football Club in the current 18th Annual Kashif and Shanghai football tournament.
“Sheldon would be greatly missed not only by the members of Western Tigers Football Club, but the West Ruimveldt community and the football fraternity also. His death is a great loss and shock to us all” stated Andre Daziel, treasurer of the club.
“Ever since his return to the club from the USA where he resided for eight years, `Popeye’ has brought with him, a sense of action and strength, and displayed an attitude of professionalism in the team.
His death has left a void in the club that cannot be filled easily as he was an integral man in the team and displayed a vast knowledge of the game due to his sojourn overseas where he played for Camptown/USA team,” Daziel added.
“His presence in the team was an added bonus for us all as he inspired the players to give of their best at all times. ‘Popeye’ was a strong influential factor in the Western Tigers line-up and one of his greatest desires was to win the Kashif and Shanghai tournament for the club along with gaining the opportunity to represent his country on the field,” said Daziel.
Levi also had the distinct opportunity of coaching the Under-13, 15 and 17 football teams of Western Tigers with some level of success and was very emotional following the loss to Alpha United in the quarter-final match of the Kashif and Shanghai football tournament in what turned out to be his last game as a “Tiger.”
He was unfortunate not to be given the opportunity to represent the country mainly because of the stalwarts in the position in the form of the late Hernandez, his team-mate Anthony ‘Lambada’ Stanton and Topp XX’s ever reliable Collie ‘ Hitman’ Hercules.
Stabroek Sport joins with all and sundry in extending condolences to the bereaved family, friends and team-mates of Levi.
