The 4th of July – Independence Day- is a much anticipated and celebrated day in the lives of Americans while in Guyana, we who hold the ‘Beautiful Game’ close to our hearts, continue to remember this day.
It was in the year 1976, some 45 years ago, that this country made its historical maiden appearance in World Cup football qualifying competition.
Like today, it was a Sunday and the football family, including the team was bubbling with confidence, despite the fact that we had not beaten our opponents and neighbours, Suriname, in the last 20 years.
The expectations among the citizens were high and the general feeling was that nothing but victory would have been accepted. The extended annual May-June rainy season that prevailed during the last two weeks leading up to the match did not deter the fans from turning out in their numbers to give support.
Among the thousands of fans crammed into the world famous Georgetown Cricket Club’s ground were the then Prime Minister of Guyana, Forbes Burnham and his wife as well as Suriname’s then Minister of Sport, Andre Kamperveen.
Every vantage point within the stands and in the trees on the periphery was occupied.
It was Bourda crammed to capacity and the cool atmosphere that permeated the venue was waiting to explode.
The wet and slippery outfield proved not to be strange conditions to our team and the long physical preparations the squad endured under physical trainer Cornell Millington were about to be tested.
The stage was set for what was guaranteed to be a Guyana win, so when Trinidad referee, Felix Gray and his compatriots, linesman (Assistant Referee’s now) Reginald Wooding and Orin Dowdner led the teams onto a muddied Bourda sward, the crowd erupted.
From the opening blast of Felix’s whistle, every possession of the ball by the home side and attack on Suriname’s goal was loudly applauded. On the stroke of the ninth minute of play pandemonium broke out when 18-year-old Vibert ‘Durdy’ Butts, wearing the number nine jersey, capitalised on a failed grasp by the Dutch custodian to score Guyana’s first World Cup goal. The deafening sound that was possibly heard throughout the City was enough motivation for the team to apply more pressure on their opponents.
The build up to the goal started on the right flank with Terry `Suzuki’ Nichols, another of four Pele FC teenagers in the starting XI. Nichols’ pass to captain Maurice Enmore in the middle was brought under control before being relayed with another well-measured pass to Keith ‘Bumpy’ Layne. His bullet-like left-footed shot on the run from about 30 metres out was too hot to handle, the ball striking the chest of goalkeeper Edmund Leilis before he knew it. The ever alert Butts, two days shy of his 19th birthday gleefully accepted while calmly placing a right- booter into an open goal to give Guyana the lead and it’s first ever world Cup goal few spectators made their way onto the pitch to offer congratulations, but they were quickly taken away.
Inspired and motivated by the early lead and urged on by the massive crowd support the mustard-colour shirts and green shorts took charge of the game. They should have been up by three at the half, but clear cut chances inside the area were muffed by Rudolph ‘Chow’ Hunte and Keith ‘Wiler’ Niles.
The Surinamese had their moments of opportunities as well with left back Gregory ‘PT Stewart’ Thorne clearing off the line with goalkeeper Wendell ‘Figeroux’ Sandiford out of position and Errol Emanuel’s shot looked like a certain goal. Thorne then had his attempted pass stolen by Emanuelson at the top of the area, but the effort went sailing harmlessly over the crossbar and into North Road, much to the relief of all Guyana.
On the resumption both teams went on the attack in the heavy conditions which proved to be a test of physical strength and fitness.
The Guyana back four of Earl ‘The Pig’ O’Neal and David ‘British’ Woolford (middle), right back Clive ‘Breezer’ Nedd and Thorne his opposite were impregnable and stood rock solid throughout the contest.
A powerfully struck left-footed shot by Suriname captain Roy George in the opening minutes of the second half was confidently and timely headed away by ‘British’ Woolford much to the delight of the fans.
Scottish coach Peter McSvenney then made a double substitution, replacing Butts and Layne with Walter ‘Yam’ Prince and Patrick ‘Labba’ Barton.
The move paid dividends almost immediately as Captain Enmore served up another assist, sending through Niles who weaved his way past the right back to hit a right booter from just outside the area and into the far corner. Again the fans went wild.
When the final whistle was blown to signal Guyana’s winning start to World Cup football it got wilder and much louder. Among those making their way onto the pitch to congratulate the players was PM Burnham who later joined in the celebratory singing inside the dressing room.
The Guyana starting XI: Wendell Sandiford, Gregory Thorne (deceased) , Keith Layne, Terry `Suzuki’ Nichols, Vibert `Durdy’ Butts and Keith `Wiler’ Niles (Pele FC); Maurice Enmore, Clive `Breezer’ Nedd (deceased) and David Woolford (Santos FC), Earl O’Neal (Thomas United) and Rudolph `Chow’ Hunte (GFC).
The 2-0 victory remains the solitary one against Suriname in over 12 meetings in World Cup qualifying competition.
