PRESIDENT of Guyana’s number one football Club Alpha United, Odinga Lumumba, said that his team will be ready for the 2014/15 CONCACAF Champions League.
It is the second time in the club’s history that Alpha United has qualified for the prestigious event which serves as the only route to the famed FIFA Club World Cup tournament.
Alpha United is placed in Group 5 of the Champions League along with Major League Soccer (MLS) side Portland Timbers and Honduran Champions Club Deportivo Olimpia.
The tournament which is played in a round-robin home and away format will see Alpha United first hosting Club Deportivo Olimpia on August 5 then Portland Timbers on August 19 at the Guyana National Stadium.
They (Alpha United) will then travel to Honduras to face Club Deportivo Olimpia on August 28 after which a trip to the USA will see the Guyanese club playing Portland Timbers at Providence Park on September 23.
At a press conference hosted yesterday at the Water Chris Hotel in Georgetown, Lumumba said presently, funding continues to be a problem but his club will persevere.
“People say they’re not supporting the club because of Odinga, but if you look at it, regardless of if I’m here or not, they weren’t even supporting the club or any sport as a matter of fact,” Odinga said.
Lumumba, who is also an Adviser to President Donald Ramotar on Youth Empowerment, believes that lack of corporate support shows a lack of respect for the players, adding “this is not about supporting Lumumba; it’s about supporting something good. It’s a waste of time begging sometimes and I don’t want to go down that road. Everyone wants development, but development comes with a large sum.”
Meanwhile, as the CONCACAF Champions League nears, Lumumba said that he’s not worried that his team is out of competition due to the closing of Guyana’s domestic season, and said that games against last Champions League debutant Caledonia AIA of Trinidad and Tobago are planned along with facing one of neighbouring Suriname’s top clubs.
“We have no valid excuse as to why we should not be ready. The team is in- camped for the last three weeks and are preparing at a very high level, even higher than our national team. The rain, however, has been our biggest challenge. We don’t have the luxury of having an artificial turf like some of the other teams but presently, just the rain,” said Lumumba.
Lumumba said that should the rain persists he will have to look at taking his team to Suriname for further encampment.
Survival Super Market, the Guyana Police Force and the Commissioner of Police are among some of the people Lumumba said he’s thankful to for their support in helping his team’s preparation for the CONCACAF Club showpiece.
Alpha United is Guyana’s most celebrated club, having won everything club football has to offer and is now playing in their second CONCACAF Champions League, following their 2011/12 showing at the tournament.
Written By Rawle Toney
