SLINGERZ Football Club is still in jubilation mood following the team’s 3-2 won over Santos in the final of the Georgetown Football Association (GFA)/Banks Beer Cup that took place last Wednesday at the Guyana National Stadium, but head coach Charles ‘Lily’ Pollard dedicated the team’s victory to the club’s owner and financier Javid Ali. The genesis of the club is a dream which Ali had and it was to simply create Guyana’s best football club.

With the advice from experienced and well qualified personnel within the football fraternity, Slingerz FC was create with the name (Slingerz) already being well known and vastly popular within Guyana’s entertainment circles.
“Without a doubt, we had to win this tournament for Mr Javid Ali. He’s what I call a Mr Everything where money is concerned for the club. He makes it all happen and therefore winning is the least we could have done to make him feel appreciated for his efforts,” Pollard said.
“I think the win,” Pollard further added, “will encourage him to invest a bit more into the programme, but more importantly, I hope it would also encourage other businesses and people to do the same.”
Pollard is one of Guyana’s most decorated players, having won basically everything local football has to offer, while also doing the same in the Twin Island Republic Professional League.
This is his first stint since turning coach last June, apart from winning the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) League November last.
“This, personally, is a major accomplishment. It’s an entirely differently feeling now that I’m a coach. I think also, though, I need to say thank you to the guys. I played with most of them on the national team and I was their captain, so I think from the beginning we had a high level of respect and understanding for each other, which makes it easy for me to impart my knowledge and set up a game plan,” the former National captain said.
Looking ahead, Pollard pointed out the club will take two weeks off to rest and enjoy a holiday, given the fact that they have been busy all year. He also made mention of the club’s youth programme to the 2014 season while noting that competing within the Caribbean is also atop his agenda.
“We want to invest in the youths this year, bringing some fresh faces to the club,” Pollard said, while further stating “It’s always important to have a youth structure as well. I think it would go well for what we have planned.
Also, we want to compete out of Guyana, maybe as far as CONCACAF but as it is right now, this is not the end, it’s just the beginning of what Javid (Ali) is looking for and that is to be the best club in the country. It’s not going to be easy but I think we are prepared to work hard.” (Rawle Toney)