– Shabazz warns of dictatorship, Lumumba makes commitment
AS the white-coloured casket bearing the body of the late Shawn ‘Fatso’ Bishop of Alpha United Football Club made its way around the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground, persons gathered at the venue were engaged in heated discussions regarding two statements. One such statement came from Technical Director of the Golden Jaguars, Jamaal Shabazz who warned of the dictatorship that is taking place within Guyana’s football today and the other from president of Alpha United Odinga Lumumba, who committed himself to ensuring Bishop’s seven-year-old daughter achieves her education goals until she reaches the age of 16.
Affiliates of the Georgetown Football Association, acting president of the Guyana Football Federation Frankie Wilson and other executives, Director and co Director of Kashif and Shanghai Organisation M.S. Aubrey Major and Kashif Muhammad and others joined family members and close relatives in bidding Bishop farewell.
Bishop, who commenced his football career under the guidance of former national player and coach Gordon Braithwaite was singled out in the coach’s tribute as a close player and son, noting that his qualities were above all in being a very coachable player and thus brought success in a number of matches for the teams he represented.
Shabazz in his short tribute lamented that he had seen a lot of people, administrators and families make preparations for parties, football matches and other function and have never seen them prepare for death.
He boldly made mention of the present situation when it comes to football in Georgetown and Guyana at large, citing administrators who wanted to dictate the powers of football.
He suggested that since Bishop had represented Guyana for most of his life, it is only fitting that a benefit match be played in his honour.
Shabazz pondered the future of the family and child of the former national player. He sought answers, as he questioned if there will be the same demonstration of love and support to Bishop’s family after the funeral.
His plea for love and care for Bishop’s family after the burial was answered by Lumumba, who, like Braithwaite and Shabazz before him, lauded the late Bishop for his role in Alpha United, adding that “Bishop was one of the players who never gave me any trouble in the club.”
Lumumba told his audience that he took time off from the opening ceremony of the 10th sitting of Parliament in Guyana, to pay his last respects, since he felt it was his duty to do so. He concluded by assuring Bishop’s mother that he will personally see to it that her seven-year-old granddaughter achieves an academic education until she reaches the age of 16.
Other tributes were read by secretary of the Georgetown Football Association, Christopher Mathias, on behalf of the executives and affiliates of the GFA and executives of the clubs Bishop played for, expressing the loss of an excellent player of the sport.
Bishop, who heard the sound of the last whistle last Friday, leaves to mourn his mother, sisters, brothers and daughter Reshana, along with many close friends and football enthusiasts, not to mention the football fraternity.