THIRTY-eight years ago, a little known but `deadly’ striker from the Santos Football Club, Lennox Arthur, decided that it was time to move on and do something for football in the South Georgetown community.

While the team he played for (Santos) originated in Albouystown, Arthur at the time felt that there were more talented youths in the community that could make that part of Guyana even more proud.

After wearing his first senior national cap in 1970 when Guyana played against Trinidad and Tobago – a game which the locals lost – Arthur, who was nicknamed Pele by his Santos team mates, decided to form a new club that would be made up of young players. He recruited a set of players from the Albouystown YMCA’s nursery and they played a number of games under the YMCA banner.

But on learning that Brazilian legend Edson Arantes do Nascimento more popularly called `King Pele’ was retiring from football on July 18 1971, he decided that he would name the team Pele and did just that with the unanimous approval of the club members.

So, on July 18, 1971, Pele was founded.
Among the founder members were Wendell Manifold, Monty Wilson, Clyde `Oiler’ Watson, Colin Watson, Keith `Bumpy’ Layne, Rondell Allison, Alfred Morrison, Orin Fanfair, Lloyd Enmore, Eric Piggy’ Smith, Lindy Mullens, Ivor James, Ivor Carrington and now Guyana Defence Force Colonel Frankie Bispham.

Arthur, the former national striker who played his last international in 1973 against Haiti then worked with the unit he recruited and oiled them into a fighting one and together they were able to win every Georgetown Football Association-sanctioned or organised championship.

Arthur who hails from Albouys Street (school street), Albouystown, started his football career at a very tender age and was nurtured in the sport by Surinamese August Outar who was responsible for turning around Guyana’s football and hockey, taking them to another level.

After Outar returned to his homeland, Arthur continued his trade, going through training sessions at the St Stephen’s ground in Charlestown, under the watchful eyes of then YMCA secretary Mr Barrow and subsequently Mr Pollard.

In those years leading up to 1964, YMCA was a force to be reckoned with and it was in 1964 that one John `Pompey’ Rodrigues decided to break away from YMCA and form his own club, thus, Santos was founded under a duncks tree between Sussex and James Streets, Albouystown.

Some of the founder members of the club were Sarjo France who went on to represent Tottenham Hot Spurs in the English Premier League, `Lege’ Whyte, Compton Lloyd, Ricky Waldron, Orrin Garnett, Lloyd Charles, Roy Charles, Morris Gordon, Sorco Beckles, Godfrey Poulis, Cardo Williams and Milroy Morris.

According to Arthur, Rodrigues trained the team like true Brazilians and because do Nascimento (King Pele) used to play for the Brazilian club Santos, he (Rodrigues) decided to name the local team Santos.

“He (Rodrigues) taught us everything about Brazilian football and we (Santos) patterned ourselves after the Brazilians” Arthur stated.

Two years after being founded, popular cricket commentator and sports journalist Sports Joseph `Reds’ Perreira left Pomeroon in Region Two and took up residence Charlestown and took over the club.

According to Arthur, Perreira was very inspirational to him and he (Perreira) gave Arthur his first Continental jersey which the latter cherished as Continental was the most popular football club at the time.

Arthur, who played at the national Under-17, Under-19 and Senior levels as a striker as well as on both the left and right wings, played with, among other local heroes, Pat Britton, Winston Callender, Lloyd King, Michael Pierre, Michael Hamden (goalkeeper), `Money Man’ Forde, Simeon Andrews and Ken Gibbs.

In 1973, the-then Brazilian Ambassador to Guyana learnt of Pele’s dominance of the sport locally and the exploits of Santos and decided to donate a trophy (Brazilian Challenge Cup) that was contested for annually between Pele and Santos.

These matches used to be played at the GFC ground and Pele won the inaugural tournament.

But after that Ambassador got posted to another country, it was never contested again.

However, now president of the Guyana Football Federation, Colin Klass, is hoping to have discussions with the current Brazilian Ambassador to see if that championship can be resuscitated.

do Nascimento (King Pele) is due to arrive in Guyana on Saturday for a two-day visit during which time he would get an opportunity to see Pele and Santos showcase their wares in an opening fixture of the 20th Annual Kashif and Shanghai tournament at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, on Sunday.