– Says MSC over moving of K&S finals;
club proposes $150M modernization
By Rawle Toney
The management of the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) in Linden says that they are not annoyed over the decision to move the Kashif and Shanghai finals to the National Stadium at Providence but were somewhat peeved over the reason given by the organizers.
Organizers of the event, the Kashif and Shanghai organization, had earlier stated that the primary reason for moving the final was the poor state of the MSC ground.
At a meeting held on October 25 at the Linden Economic Advancement Programme (LEAP) building between the organizers and Linden residents, it was stated that the organizers felt that they had been unable to offer football fans and players an environment befitting the finals of the prestigious football tournament in Guyana.
It was also mentioned that the organizers had lost some 33% in attendance at the finals owing to a cramped venue whenever the event was sold out.
At a press conference held Thursday last in Linden, the MSC management said that they were not pleased about the remarks made about moving the finals.
President of the club Avery Trim said: “We understand that the Kashif and Shanghai finals has certainly outgrown the MSC ground but to say that the finals are moving because of the state of the MSC is disturbing and is giving our club a bad image.”
He said, however, that they did not feel betrayed since they still enjoy a close relationship with the Kashif and Shanghai organization.
Upgrading MOU
In February of 2007, the MSC met with the organization where it was agreed that they would help the MSC to solicit sponsorship in order to upgrade the facility.
On February 16 the same year, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the two parties where it was agreed that the organization would work hand-in-hand with the MSC to make upgrading the facility a reality and a plan was developed and presented to the Mayor and Town Council of Linden (M&TC).
According to Secretary of the MSC, Rawle Blair, the plan was processed by the M&TC after a few months and was then moved to the Central Housing and Planning Committee (CHPC).
Blair said that he tried feverishly to get an update and when he finally managed to do so, the news was not too pleasing.
“I received a call from someone who said that he was an officer attached to the CHPC. He said to me that the proposed new stands for the venue were too close to the fence.”
Blair added: “I told him that at most of the grounds with this type of set up, the stands make up the fence to which he hung up the phone, and that’s the last I ever heard about the plan.”
Blair also said that people refer to the money given by the K&S organization for ground rental of the annual year-end football event to say that the MSC was making money but that was a clear misconception.
Running at a loss
According to Blair, the club has made $1.19 million on ground rentals and bar sales from January 2008 to date but they have also paid $1.7 million in salaries to staff.
He said they also pay a monthly pension to two persons; one who had a leg amputated after an injury sustained while on duty at the club and another who has been with the club for many years.
He said this clearly showed that the club was running at a loss but said they were able to do some amount of work with the money made over the years.
He also said that his club’s books were in order and were open to audit anytime.
In 1956, the MSC ground was handed over to workers of the then DEMBA (Demerara Bauxite Company Limited). During that time, all costs of the ground’s upkeep were handled by DEMBA.
But things have since changed for the venue which, in its heyday, had accommodated almost every single sport that was played in Guyana at the time.
$150M modernization
The Avery Trim-led administration took office in 2003 and already has plans to modernize the facility.
The new modernization project will cost approximately $150 million and, according to the management, if they can make at least half of it, things will be bright for the club but this can only happen by having everyone on board.
