… to represent North Rupanuni at Heritage games
EMERY Wilson led Paramakatoi’s male football team to victory in the highly competitive North Pakaraima (PK) football competition, hosted by Kato Village, Region 8. The tournament concluded late last month.
The PK champs in the final of the competition inflicted a 5-2 drubbing of Kopinang, who were for the most part, unresponsive to their opponents’ aggression but laboured on to net two goals before the final whistle blew.
Deon Paul emerged as PK’s pillar after netting a double, while support came from Jemaine Kumar and Deon Paul with one goal each, and the fifth goal came by way of a defence error.
Scoring for Kopinang was Milford Pablo with a double.
In the female competition, the match was decided by a penalty shootout with the hosts (Kato) getting the better of Kanapang 3-1.
For the third place playoff, Kurukubaru defeated Chenapou in the male encounter, while Paramakatoi defeated Kurukubaru for the female title.
Both matches were decided via sudden-death penalty shootout.
Thirteen male and nine female teams participated in the competition.
This year’s tournament was historic since it is the first time an official from football’s governing body, FIFA, witnessed competitive football at the grassroots level.
FIFA’s director Mr Vernon Masengio Omba made good on his promise to the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, to visit Guyana during the competition to see first-hand the dedication and sacrifice made by the participating teams.
Addressing the teams at the opening of the tournament, Mr Omba commended their determination as he was afforded the opportunity of travelling from one village to another (Paramakatoi to Kato) and experiencing some of the challenges teams must endure, all for the love of this beautiful game.
“You reached after walking about two to three days to get here. That alone shows how passionate you are for the game of football and I believe from now, we will be behind you, behind the GFF and behind the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs,” Omba assured.
He noted that he is returning to Zurich with enough evidence to convince FIFA that it should support football in the North Pakaraimas.
Minister within the Ministry, Valerie Garrido-Lowe, who is also Patron for Women’s Football in Guyana, expressed pleasure at the level of participation and commitment teams continue to show towards making the tournament a success.
The minister said, “Region Eight always was not supported enough. You travel two to three days to come and build this beautiful game, but now I am proud to say that your Government, our Government, has delivered on our promise, and for 2018 $1M was allocated for the first time ever, for the North Pakaraima football tournament. And as Mr Vernon said, FIFA is here to develop the beautiful game. You deserve a fair chance for support.”
She, however, recognised that the Ministry cannot do it alone and acknowledged the contributions it continues to receive from the Guyana Football Federation, led by Mr Wayne Forde who made his second appearance at the North Pakaraima Games.
This is the second official hosting of the tournament and already the investment made is bearing fruit. Also present was Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Alfred King.
Seventeen teams – 10 male and 7 female – have booked their spots for this year’s Heritage Games, while defending champs for cricket, Mahdia, will face stiff competition against the likes of Region 2 United, Port Kaituma, Moraikobai, St Cuthbert’s among others.
The three-day event commences on Friday September 21 and concludes on Sunday, with the finals for all the disciplines as well as an All Stars football matchup.
