Alpha to represent Guyana at Cope de Guiana’s tournament

By Calvin Roberts

National club champions Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United by virtue of topping the League in the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) 2006 /2007 Cellink Plus sponsored Premier league competition has been chosen to represent Guyana at the Cope de Guiana’s football tournament scheduled for French Guiana from June 4-9.

President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Colin Klass, third from right, hands over the championship trophy to GFF vice-president, Franklyn Wilson.  Others in picture are from left, Noel Adonis, secretary of the GFF, Odinga Lumumba, president of Alpha United and Frederick Granger,  Public Relations Officer of the GFF. Aubrey Crawford photo)President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Colin Klass yesterday informed the media at the simple ceremony that the decision to run off this tournament was made by the French Guiana Football Federation following the false starts by Guyana and Suriname a few years ago.
“We made attempts to start this tournament a few years ago, but were faced with some stumbling blocks. However, French Guiana made a recommendation that they would finance the tournament including an increase in the first place prize money from US$1,500.00 to an undisclosed sum, thus the start which will kick off on 4th June,” Klass stated.

He added that both countries would share the cost of the tournament in some form or the other, with Guyana being given the task of providing the championship trophy and the replicas.
“At meetings held to discuss the way forward in this annual tournament, it was decided that all three countries would be tasked with the assistance of offsetting the cost of the tournament in some form or the other.”
“French Guiana, due to their strong financial standing, will foot the cost of prize monies to be distributed as well as providing accommodation, transportation and meals for the visiting teams.

Guyana’s duty is to provide the championship trophy which we already have and the replicas.”
“It was also decided that the host country will field two teams in the tournament whilst one will come from the other two countries.

“Therefore, this tournament will see two teams from French Guiana along with one each from Guyana and Suriname participating in the tournament.”
“This tournament is part of a three-fold one where teams at the junior, women and senior level would be participating.

“Unfortunately, Guyana missed the under-15 tournament played last year end due to logistical reasons beyond our control including the festive season, but we will be fielding one this year whilst the women’s team will go into action at a date to be decided upon later,” Klass added.
Klass  and  the presidents of the Suriname and French Guiana Football federations were expected to be a part of the opening ceremony and also witness the running off of the competition, but due to his required attendance at the CONCACAF and FIFA Congress that will de held in Sydney, Australia from  May 28-30, vice president of the GFF, Franklyn Wilson, will act as his representative.

 Meanwhile president of Alpha United Odinga Lumumba, has expressed his gratitude to the GFF for selecting  his club to represent Guyana at the inaugural tournament.

“To represent your country as an individual is an honor and to do it as a team is an added boost. We have the strongest team in Guyana pound-for-pound whenever we do have all of our players around. We have been able to rectify the problems we had encountered recently in terms of the coaching and the victory we had over Fruta Conquerors in our last GFA Premier League competition can attest to such, which gives further testament to us being the local Manchester United.”

Lumumba added that his team would  be going as ambassadors for Guyana and vowed to return home with the trophy. He, however, warned that education must be a part of any sportsman life if he intended to succeed in the field of his choice.

“Approximately 95% of our players have a waning academic background thus when they are faced with certain impromptu decisions on the field of play, they are unable to make such. Education is a key don’t matter how talented a player you are. If you don’t have a mental and intellectual background, you would not be able to handle certain decisions,” stated Lumumba. Lumumba opined that this tournament would serve as a feather in the cap of his team due to the level of competition they would be up against.“No disrespect to the other teams, but when you play against teams here in Guyana, you know the players and what they would be bringing to the table. In this competition, it would be a different ball game which would serve my team very well. Irrespective of that, we will be going there to do our best and return with the championship trophy back to Guyana.”The 23-member Alpha side comprising 18 players and five officials, will leave these shores on June 2 and depart French Guiana on June 9. With each country tasked the responsibility of with supplying a referee for the tournament Guyana has chosen FIFA-qualified referee Roland Persaud.