JUST a year ago, one East Bank Essequibo businessman assembled some of the best football players in Guyana, with the aim of one day having the country’s number one team and though that title still respectfully belongs to Alpha United, Slingerz Football Club enjoyed a fruitful inauguration into Guyana’s football arena.The pinnacle of the club’s accomplishments for 2013 was winning the prestigious Georgetown Football Association (GFA)/Banks Beer Cup, following a 3-2 win over Santos in the final.
Added to that, the club’s only defeat since their registration under the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) came at the hands of Alpha United last February.
The ‘Hammers’, owned by Odinga Lumumba, Presidential Adviser on Youth Empowerment, clinched a 1-0 win in the Mayor’s Cup Final and then defeated the ‘West Side’ team 4-2 in the final of the Goal for Gold tournament.
They competed in five tournaments, winning three and finishing runners-up in two; a statistic that the general manager Colin ‘BL’ Aaron is happy about.
“If you look back at football in Guyana, I don’t think there’s any other club who can boast that in their first year, they were able to have that amount of success. So Slingerz FC is happy. We’re not satisfied because in sports, everyone’s aim is to be the best at what they do and as such, we will going all out to ensure that happens,” Aaron said.
Looking ahead, the club made eight new signings with the acquisition of National striker Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams being the most notable.
Abrams was acquired from Slingerz FC’s arch rivals Alpha United and the ambidextrous striker, according the club’s general manager, will certainly be an asset to the team.
“I think every coach will also love to have a player like ‘Awo’ on his side. He brings with him a wealth of experience. You find many forwards have played for this country at every level. He came from a top club in the Caribbean, and so he knows what it means to play hard and to win titles.”
Domanique Babb (Milerock), John Waldron (Silver Shattas), Deon Charter (Eagles United), Lennox Allicock (Vasco), Dextroy Adams (Young Achievers) Leroy Pedro (Western Tigers) and Jamal Harvey (Uitvlugt United) are the other new players who will now don the Slingerz uniform.
“This is a team that we believe will be successful this season and will give us that competitive edge. We came out with a bang and so the club and its players are always in a situation where we have to perform at our best because that’s what persons are expecting of us. We have an obligation to the people who support us. Things can only get better for us from this stage onwards,” Aaron said.
Asked if the exit of former captain Dwain Jacobs is seen as a major blow to the team, Aaron said, “Jacobs is a great player and played an important role in our being in the position we’re in presently, but his leaving didn’t put a damper on us in anyway. The players all play specific roles and as such, collectively, we were able to achieve some of our objectives for last year, but it is never about no one man getting things done. But we wish him well.”
Slingerz FC will roll out their star-studded roster this Saturday when the second Annual Stag Beer/West Side Mashramani Champions Cup kicks off at the Uitvlugt Community Centre ground.
The defending champions will come up against Bagotville in the opening encounter while the home side and Stewartville collide in the second of the evening’s fixed double-header in the knockout tournament.
SLINGERZ ROSTER; Michael Crandon, Trenton Lashley, Pierre Joseph, Tichard Joseph, Vurlon Mills (captain), Joshua Brown, Kimba Braithwaite, Olvis Mitchell, Quason McAully, Rondell Hutson, Les-Charles Critchlow, Simon Emmanuel, Colin Nelson, Jason Cromwell, Anthony Harding, Clive Nobrega, Domanique Babb, John Waldron, Deon Charter, Lennox Allicock, Dextroy Adams, Leroy Pedro, Anthony Abrams, Devon Millington and Jamal Harvey. Coach is Charles ‘Lily’ Pollard.