PRESIDENT of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Wayne Forde, speaking at the opening ceremony of the Upper Demerara Football Association’s (UDFA) ‘GT Beer’ Football championship at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground on Sunday, paid tribute to the past players from the mining town who have done the town proud. “Players like Neville Johnson, the Hutson brothers, Collie Hercules, Charles Pollard; those individuals who have graced this venue have brought much entertainment to the crowds.” Forde said and his statement was greeted by loud cheers by the packed venue.
Forde added, “I also would like to announce to the entire public, the executive body of the UDFA, the relationship that Linden would have enjoyed with previous executive bodies will improve dramatically. We see Linden as a significant force within the football family.
Just after being banned and being able to pick them-selves up at this point – it is almost two tournaments – is an example I hope that the rest of the football family will take an example from.
The GFF boss, addressing the opening which was attended by Banks DIH Communications Manager Troy Peters and Banks Linden Branch Manager Shondell Easton, continued “The UDFA is one of those associations that over the past decades would have demonstrated the capacity to give Guyana not only talented footballers, but we hope that we can continue to do so and with the grace of Almighty God, we will continue to do so”.
Pitching in on the acknowledgements and the achievements put forward by Forde, the UDFA president Sharma Solomon wasted no time in highlighting the association’s intention to improve the infrastructure. He said they are pursuing the GFF, as they have done over the past couple of years, to bring that ‘special Goal Project to the Upper Demerara Football Association.
He stated that then UDFA was always proactive in helping the sport and the footballers. Solomon stated that Banks DIH, through its GT Beer brand has invested heavily towards the development of football and he pleaded with the players, adding, “We ask of you, with that sort of commitment, that we stand with you to demonstrate to you that leadership to move this association forward requires that commitment, even from you our players. We are looking at almost $12M injected in the past years into our players and it is not only $12M”
With that in mind, Solomon hoped that with this tournament returning to Region 10 (Upper Demerara) it will produce not only talented players but it can give to Guyana the showpiece that we have given for the past several decades.

By Joe Chapman