COME Friday, November 11, 2011, Guyana’s Golden Jaguars 2012 World Cup Qualifying efforts will hit a high peak, when they oppose Trinidad and Tobago’s Soca Warriors in the first match of an important home and away fixture at the Guyana National Stadium.
The dynamic football promotional organization, Kashif and Shanghai Organisation (K&S), has been entrusted with the role of promoting this historic encounter by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) for the second time, having done so when the Jaguars faced Suriname in a return fixture at the same venue four years ago.
In an invited comment with Chronicle Sport yesterday, Managing Director of K&S, Kashif Muhammad, called on all Guyana to get on board with the ‘Wear Yellow’ campaign, the official colour of the Golden Jaguars.
“We don’t wish to sound jealous, but while I must say it is a pleasure for the K&S Organisation to be entrusted with the responsibility of promoting this important football match in the history of Guyana’s football, we need to see all of Guyana showing their support to our team next Friday.
A contingent of around 200 persons from Trinidad and Tobago, called and requested that amount of tickets while they requested and were granted permission to walk with drums and other noise-making instruments in support of their team,” said Muhammad.
He added, “So far, our Golden Jaguars have played four matches, winning three of them and drawing the other and the team we drew with which is Bermuda after defeating them at home here in Guyana, defeated Trinidad and I know that the Golden Jaguars, based on the level of football they are playing now, can overcome the Soca Warriors and advance to the next round of the qualifiers.”
According to Muhammad who has over 22 years experience in organising his very own K&S Football tournament, the ‘Wear Yellow’ campaign began one week ago, where both the K&S Organisation and the GFF have been appealing to the entire nation to wear yellow in support of their team on that day.
“We want to show the world, Guyana’s love not only for the sport of football, but their team. With that in mind, we want those who will be attending this match to not only wear yellow, but walk with their drums, whistles, trumpets and any other noise-making instrument so that we can double, triple and even quadruple the Soca Warriors’ support.
We need to do it real and give the Golden Jaguars real support as well. Already, the return fixture in Trinidad has been sold out, since the Trinidadians have high hopes of their team advancing ahead of Guyana in the qualifiers.”
He outlined the arrival of a number of overseas players, such as Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson, who are in Guyana and are currently training with the team under the watchful eyes of Technical Director Jamal Shabazz and head coach Wayne ‘Wiggy’ Dover.
Looking back four years ago after the Jaguars’ loss to Suriname, Muhammad highlighted the support that was given to the team and while he wishes to see the same support, he took the time to urge all of Guyana to come out and surpass that figure.
“I am appealing to all of Guyana to come out. Come out from Linden, Berbice, Essequibo, Bartica and even Mahdia and throw your support behind the Golden Jaguars. We want to see persons coming from all 10 Regions in Guyana.
Tickets cost $1 000 in advance while patrons will be asked to pay $500 more at the gate. With regard to the ‘Wear Yellow’ campaign, replica T-shirts of the Golden Jaguars will be on sale at various boutiques, while Sports Plus, which is located at the corner of Quamina and Carmichael Streets, have T-shirts and caps on sale at $1 200 each,” stated Muhammad.
T-shirts tickets will also be on sale at the K&S Office on Irving Street, while Guyana’s entertainment fraternity will be live on HJTV Channel 72 tomorrow night from 20:00hrs, calling on all of Guyana to come out and support the Golden Jaguars.
A win will certainly guarantee the Golden Jaguars a place in the next round and what better way to achieve such, than in front of your home crowd, where thousands are expected to be waving the Golden Arrowhead and cheering the Golden Jaguars on vociferously.