Teams displayed best youth football seen in a long time – Chief Education Officer

CHIEF Education Officer within the Ministry of Education Olata Sam last Wednesday night applauded all 24 teams who competed in the inaugural Kashif and Shanghai/Chico Elite Next Generation Football tournament, in which Wismar/Christianburg Secondary came out winners.Sam was at the time delivering brief remarks at the presentation ceremony after the playing of the final, to an audience which included players, coaches, fans and teachers of the four semifinalists, Minister within in the Ministry of Finance Bishop Juan Edghill and K&S Directors Kashif Muhammad and Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major.
This was after Wismar/Christianburg defeated Ash Education Trust (AET) 4-2 on penalty kicks following a 1-1 stalemate at the end of regulation time, – a game which was played after Waramadong humiliated St George’s 9-0 in their third-place matchup.
“You have just given to us through this tournament, the best youth football we have seen in Guyana for a long time and I must thank the organisers for organising such an excellent event over the past four weeks,” said Sam.
He added, “Everybody here tonight was treated to an excellent display of where I think our country is going as it relates to the development of the sport and look, I don’t want any of you hanging your heads because you may have lost your game tonight because you should all feel extremely proud that you got the opportunity to not just display your skills at this high level, but that people were here observing and identifying young people who have the potential to go forward.”
He reminded his listeners of his opening ceremony remarks made on the December 8 at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground, where he charged all the players to put their best foot forward for their team, while informing them that they were sporting ambassadors.
“You are all sporting ambassadors for your institution and I wish for you to conduct yourselves in that manner at all times, remembering that every time u step on or off the field, persons watching are determining the next set of young people to represent this country at a higher level,” stated Sam.
He charged the players from all the schools who competed in the tournament, to go back to their respective schools, taking the lessons they may have learnt during the tournament such as Sportsmanship, Commitment, Dedication and Discipline and transfer it into the classroom.
“When you transfer those skills you may have learnt while competing in the tournament, you will become a productive student because the best person you can be is a student/athlete, somebody who can take yourself out in all aspect of life. Go back to your school with a new vision of who you can be as a student/athlete,” said Sam.
He lauded compliments on the K&SV Organisation and the Ministry of Sport for their support given to the tournament while saying he is extremely enthused about what can be done with the talent displayed by the students from the various schools during the tournament.
Meanwhile, in the individual accolades that were distributed, Wismar Christianburg and Mackenzie High were the recipients of a computer courtesy of Caribbean Cargo, for being the two schools from the mining town of Linden to reach the quarterfinals.
Also receiving awards were: Wismar/Christianburg Coach Anthony Stephens (Best Coach), Waramadong (Most Discipline Team), President’s College (Best Dressed Team), 11-year-old Nicholas McArthur (Youngest Player), Yannick Simon (Best Goalkeeper), Miles Albert (Best Midfielder), Kevin Layne (Best Defender), Lyndell Joseph (Most Goals) and Waramadong (Fair Play).
Wismar/Christianburg’s Shane Luckie won for himself, one Kindle Computer (Tablet), one-month stint with a top club in Trinidad and Tobago and a trophy, after being adjudged the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Wismar/ Christianburg took the top prize of $1.2M, championship trophy and 24 replicas, Ash Education Trust $750 000 and trophy, Waramadong $500 000 and trophy and St George’s $250 000 and trophy, while Waramadong were also the recipients of an official 2014 FIFA World Cup ball, compliments of Dale Bascombe.

(By Calvin Roberts)