Dear Editor,
It is inconceivable that after more than twenty years of competition, Essequibo still does not participate in one of the premier football tournaments in Guyana. I have highlighted this blunder on more than one occasion, yet the organizers have been reluctant to respond positively and with the kind of interest they seem to harbour for football development. In fact not even a single school team was invited from Essequibo when the tournament took a diversion from senior to junior last year. Mr Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major once aspired to the presidency of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and may still do so in the future. Given such gross disrespect for the Essequibo constituent, however, I am of the opinion that as a Director of the Kashif and Shanghi he needs to get his angle correct, since football should to be kicked in all corners.
I am amazed at the unconditional support that the organization receives annually, including from the government, yet the organizers are reluctant to invest in the sport, especially in rural areas. Even sponsors from North America have shown considerable interest, and I am sure that their vision was to see the game rise in every village, community and town. It is a travesty that Essequibians are being denied showcasing their talent since the best footballers would be on display from the various clubs. I believe that the Normalization Committee headed Mr Clinton Urling, who is quite competent, should have insisted that an Essequibo team is represented on the itinerary before sanctioning the tournament. This would have been a tremendous opportunity for the aspiring footballers from the county and it would have also paved the way for the sport to evolve institutionally, structurally and technically. I am indeed impressed with the skill level of some of the players, and with continuous training, commitment and support they can compete against the best in the country. A visit to the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground on any day will attest to my view.
The Essequibo Football Association has been fully functional after years of dormancy, therefore I am appealing to the authorities to make meaningful representation for the players, because I am not convinced that this will ever be done by the Kashif and Shanghai organization. Perhaps Prime Minister Samuel Hinds should have been enquiring from them about this every time he presents the winning trophy for the competition. It is time that the talented footballers in Essequibo are removed from the sidelines.
Yours faithfully,
Elroy Stephney
