MINISTER of Sport Dr. Frank Anthony yesterday told his audience at the opening of the inaugural Kashif and Shanghai /Chico Elite Next Generation football tournament held at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground, that his Ministry will be there with the organisers, since they think it will be an exciting journey.“I want to thank the K&S Organisation for all they would have done for football over the years and I see them chartering new territories, while I take this opportunity to wish them all success. We at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, will be there with you, since we think it will be an exciting journey.”
Dr. Anthony told his audience, which included Chief Education Officer Olato Sam, Public Relations Officer of Ansa McAl Darshanie Yusuf, president of the Guyana Football Federation Christopher Matthias and Directors of the K&S Organisation Kashif Muhammad and Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major, that he has been with the organisation for six of the 24 years of its existence.
“I would have been here with them at the opening ceremony, for perhaps six occasions of their 24 years and I can say in all fairness to them, on each occasion I came to launch the tournament or be with them during same, it was always Guyanese football at its best,” said Dr. Anthony.
He added, “I think, like with any part of life from time to time, you might encounter difficulties and challenges, but it depends on your point of view and I think this organisation has demonstrated resilience that when confronted with challenges, they did not take the easy way out, threw up their hands and give up.
“They thought about it and because of their passion and love for football, they thought, perhaps, where their efforts would be more needed and concentrated on for the good of the game and instead of challenges daunting them and putting them down, they are real optimist, wherein they took the challenges and turned it into opportunities, hence what we are seeing here today.”
He believed that beyond a shadow of a doubt, the contributions the K&S Organisation would have made at the senior level for the past 23 years will see them playing such a similar and even greater role at the youth level.
“It is from this pool of young people which will make our future national teams, which will go out and represent this country,” posited Dr. Anthony.
“It is from these young people that we will expect great things from them and it is these same young people coming from various schools who we will want go back to their respective schools and become ambassadors not just for football, but sports in general.”
As is customary with his speeches at such events, Dr. Anthony reminded all under the sound of his voice, of the chronic non-communicable diseases such as High Blood Pressure, Obesity and Diabetes, which has been plaguing people between the ages of 40 to 45 here in Guyana, calling for a change in such through sports.
“The only way we can change that is if we change our lifestyle and exercise more and what a better place than to teach our young people at school, the importance of sport and exercise, as it is important that we teach them sport not just for academic exercise, but get them to participate in it,” said Dr. Anthony before he declared the tournament open, by conducting the ceremonial kick off.
In his brief remarks, Sam said the tournament heralded a wonderful day for sports in Guyana in general, but particularly football in schools, showering commendation on the K&S Organisation for conceptualising and putting in reality, the idea of the tournament.
“I see this as a wonderful opportunity for all of Guyana to come together and support the nation’s youths, who now have an opportunity to make their name, while I urge them to continue to be good ambassadors for their school.”
Matthias said the GFF wishes to commend the Organisers for organising the tournament which he describes as unique and distinguished and one which can be used as a catalyst for the 2016 Olympics and the 2018 World Cup.
“Indeed, this approach makes the 24th edition of the K&S/Chico Elite Next Generation football tournament even more interesting.
Both FIFA and CONCACAF has embarked in the direction of ensuring football develops from the Under-11, Under-13, Under-15, Under-17, Under-19, Under-21 and Under-23 and hoping that it took an environment…” said Matthias
According to Matthias, the GFF welcomes the initiative, applauds the unique approach while saying the GFF fully supports it and will do all within its power to ensure the success of the tournament, while he thanked the sponsors for coming onboard.
Like Dr. Anthony and Matthias, Yusuf thanked the organisers for putting together a wonderful tournament, which will see the top 24 of the nation’s schools from this year’s Digicel nationwide tournament battling for supremacy, while calling for the players to develop their talent and skills, while becoming the next generation of the country’s footballers with a wonderful academic background.
Prior to the opening remarks, one minute silence was observed for the late President of South Africa Nelson Mandela, who died last Thursday.
Meanwhile, Wisburg Secondary School became the tournament’s first casualty, when they went under to East Ruimveldt Secondary in the opening contest.
Tshekedi Whitehead sent the team from the mining town of Linden into the lead in the 9th minute, while Jermaine Moore doubled it 16 minutes later with his strike before Romel Legall ensured the eventual victors took the lemon time break with the scoreline reading 2-1, with his 45th minute goal.
Shaquille Frank made it a two goal possession for Wisburg, when he found the back of the net in the 52nd minute, but goals from Shemar Beaton (74th) and Nicholas Hunte (90+2), ensured penalty kicks would be the deciding factor, for which East Ruimveldt came out on top with a 3-2 scoreline.