With a demanding international schedule this year the new executive of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) indicated yesterday that it is currently cash strapped and unable to solely finance teams’ participation at various international assignments.
The recently elected executive, which is now headed by Christopher ‘Kit’ Nascimento, held a press conference yesterday at the Guyana Olympic Association headquarters on High Street and Nascimento told media operatives that the achievements of the national rugby team has come at a great cost.
He pointed out that while the private sector has lent its support for the team to attend major championships, the association needed a lot more funding this year.
He bemoaned the fact that the government has not given any funds to aid the cause of the team getting to their engagements.
According to Nascimento, rugby teams have always been financed by the GRFU, major sponsors and grants affiliate members receive from the world governing body International Rugby Board (IRB).
Despite these challenges, Nascimento disclosed, the male (in particular) and female rugby teams have placed Guyana on the international stage and it has not been recognized much in the country more especially since the government did not aid with financing.
And with the men’s performance in the recent IRB Sevens World Series in Las Vegas it has guaranteed Guyana, along with Canada, from the North America and Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA), to qualify for the Commonwealth Games in India in October.
Nascimento expressed his dissatisfaction since, with enough funding, Guyana would have sent a female team to Las Vegas.
He was optimistic that the ladies would have held their own at the tournament judging from what he saw.
Nascimento, who is also the president of the West Indies Rugby Union (WIRU), stated at the press conference Guyana proved they were physically and technically on the same level as the top ranked teams but it was evident that the men lacked the psychological edge.
He said that the only way they can continue to compete at a high level is if they are exposed to advanced warm up games before the Commonwealth Games.
He reiterated that for this to happen it will cost the GRFU about US$60,000-$65,000, more particularly since the airfare is not paid when teams have to compete at the Commonwealth level as is the case when a team participates in the World Series. Nascimento was blunt when he said that the achievement of the rugby team was hard to compare with any other sport team in the country.
On the other hand, Guyana will be hosting the Central American and Caribbean Games on July 24-25 at the Guyana National Stadium and the price is staggering to host the event. The government in this case, however, will be partnering with the GRFU and the GOA.
Further, Guyana will be hosting the men’s and women’s Sevens NACRA tournament on July 27-28 and 30-31 respectively. The teams will be defending their Caribbean titles and Nascimento is urging all of Guyana to come out and support the teams.
In August, local under-19 ruggers will wing out to The Bahamas for the rugby 15s tournament. At this juncture Nascimento said that the GRFU cannot keep putting a strain on the private sector despite the fact that the sector has been extremely generous to the association’s cause.
Circumspectly, he stated that the GOG should see their input as an investment which can also be seen as a huge public relation event.
