THE much-anticipated return to the land of his birth begins for Plaisance-born Canadian Football Hall of Famer Alex Bunbury when he touches down at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport at about 08:00 hrs today.This visit to Guyana will last for two weeks, during which Bunbury and his entourage will conduct coaching clinics for young boys and girls around the country, host workshops, and have dialogue with Government and key stakeholders on his vision to establish the “Alex Bunbury Sports and Academics Academy” (ABSAA), a state-of-the-art facility, here in Guyana.
Accompanying Bunbury on his historic visit are Sam Bunbury, Alicia Nichols, Stan Harmon, Tim Baker, James Paul, Paul Bowen, Les Logsdon and Christopher Nurse.
Bunbury migrated with his family to Canada when he was just nine years old. He went on to represent his adopted home country at the Junior (9 caps, 3 goals) and Senior (65 caps, 16 goals) levels; and in 2006, the Guyanese was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame.
Six years later, Bunbury was named in an all-time Canada Men’s X1 as part of the centennial celebrations of the Canada Soccer Association.
The 48-year-old began his professional career in the Canadian Soccer League with Hamilton Steelers, before playing for the Toronto Blizzards and the Montreal Supra. After a brief stop-over in England with West Ham United, he suited up for C.S Maritimo in the Portuguese Division One, where he is still the club’s all-time leading goal-scorer with 59 goals from 165 appearances. In his second season with the club, he was named ‘Foreign Player of the Year’, and in his final season (1998-1999), he scored a record 15 goals.

From Portugal, Bunbury took his skills to the Major League Soccer in the USA, where he spent two seasons with the Kansas City Wizards before bringing a successful professional career to an end.
While here in Guyana, Bunbury’s tour party will visit potential sites for the realisation of his first landmark project, which is being established to create hope and opportunity through sports and academics.
The Hall of Famer said his vision is about empowering young people. “Empowering Guyanese youths of all races, especially the less-advantaged, to achieve their full potential as productive, innovative and caring citizens in the Game of Life”, Bunbury emphasized.
Bunbury’s first call of duty will be today at noon, when he hosts a media brief at the Pegasus Hotel. The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has endorsed the visit, and is assisting with its successful hosting.

By: Ras Wadada