…ex-Pele FC and GFL president dies in NY 

By Ras Wadada

THE Sports fraternities in Guyana and New York are in a state of mourning as past outstanding football administrator, William ‘Billy’ Braithwaite, transitioned to ‘the land beyond’ early yesterday morning at the NY Presbyterian Hospital where he was hospitalised for just over a week.

Braithwaite, a former president of Pele FC and the Georgetown Football League (GFL), now Georgetown Football Association (GFA), during the 70s and early 80s, migrated with his family to the USA in 1981. He was the first elected secretary of the GFL, headed by former City Mayor, Kenneth Shortt, whom Braithwaite replaced as president in 1978.

The former Area Manager of BWIA, now Caribbean Airlines, is remembered by his very close friend and secretary during his leadership of the GFL, Ivor O’Brien, “The world has lost a very nice person. There is nothing bad about Billy I can recall over the decades we have been very close friends, almost like brothers.

“He is the one who encouraged me to be part of the GFL in its infancy years. In fact, I was elected secretary at the first AGM of the GFL in 1974. As an administrator in football he brought a lot to the table and is a man of class. He always showed great respect to people and had a real charming personality.”

Also paying tribute to the 74-year-old Braithwaite was his cousin Terry Braithwaite, former Guyana and Caribbean Rugby captain now domiciled in the USA, “My first recollection of him was as a young teenaged teacher at St Ambrose Primary. He was always well dressed and very articulate.

“He displayed leadership qualities at an early age and was very popular among friends and peers. His aggressiveness in getting things done had more to do with his influence and smooth manner in making things happen. Definitely, he was charismatic, well loved and admired and had an eye for beauty. A very loving and caring soul has departed but his legacy will live forever. The news of his death has saddened me.”

It is reported that Braithwaite became another NY fatality of COVID-19 currently on a global destructive path. He leaves to mourn his wife Cicely, two daughters Michelle (Petal) and Billie as well as son Stokley.