Former national footballer Anthony `Brains’ Bowen has died in the United States of America.
According to his former teammate Deon Barnwell, Bowen died two weeks ago from heart problems and was laid to rest yesterday in the USA.
Bowen is one of several Guyanese footballers who absconded whilst representing Guyana in an Olympic Qualifier in Los Angeles, California, in December of 1987.
The players that abandoned the team following the match against Mexico were Shawn `Putty’ Williams, Elson `Chiddi Kong’ Hinckson, Gerald Williams, Ingram Halley, Adrian` The Ballerina’ Forde, Colin Pollard, Trevor `Lanny’ Maxwell, Rupert `Chop Eye’ Gordon, Terrence Junior George, Broderick Murray, David Kistoo, Nigel `Mice’ Cummings, Rodney and Neil O’Choa.
The players that returned to Guyana were former national captain Terrence Archer, Deon Barnwell, Eon Williams, Lawrence Arjoon, Godfrey Gibbons and Ossie Taylor.
Forde returned at a later date.
Oscar `Legs’ Rodney absconded whilst the team was returning from the Bahamas via Miami and then skipper Anthony Williams and Deon `Boogie’ Roberts absconded whilst the team in transit in Miami on its way to The Bahamas.
Rodney, `Putty’ Williams, `Lanny’ Maxwell, Pollard and Hinckson have all died.
Bowen played for Western Tigers, Santos and Pele and in 1987, he toured The Bahamas, St Lucia, Barbados, the Dominican Republic and Guatemala with the national team.
