As Victoria Kings Clash of Unity play-off

INSCRIBED on their symbol are the words, “Discipline is the gateway to excellence” and the Victoria Kings football club continues to strive to keep up this mantra, as well as the reputation they have established for themselves over the years.

In an intense battle that lasted for over two hours, the over-35 Veterans eventually managed to overcome their younger counterparts, the under-35 Elites at a score of 1-0. At half time it was 0-0. However, Winston ‘Walla’ Pompey broke the deadlock in the 78th minute when he crashed Aubrey Gibson cross past goalkeeper Shemar Holder to score a fantastic goal.

The younger players determined to not lose face put up a ferocious fight to at least come up equal but this was not to be. The response was equally unbendable as team players such as Sherlock Dowden, Shawn Samuels, Samuel Blackett and Oral Lashley prevented them from scoring any goal.

CUTS ACROSS ALL BARRIERS
“Basically we have some villagers who live abroad but returned home for the Christmas season, which included some past footballers. They felt that more should be done in terms of putting the Victoria Kings Football Club where it used to be – which was one of the best football clubs in Guyana,” Calvin Nurse an executive member of the club explained. “They organised the under-25 squad that is made up of current players – the Elite club; they also organised the over-35 squad – the Veterans, which was made up of past players and a few current players because at present there are mostly youngsters in the club.”

Nurse stated that football is a game that unites people and cuts across all barriers – social, economic, political, religious and cultural. He said that it was a good start for the year and that the Elite team will continue in early February and the club is getting prepared, using that as a catalyst to improve the team.

He said that most of the players at this time are the younger ones and so it is expected that this will be one of the youngest team of footballers playing, with only two players over 35 years old this season, since all the others have retired.

He further explained that the over-35 players have not abandoned the Victoria Kings, as they will be around to assist in coaching the young ones to play effective football, but they would not be playing football.

“This is seriously one of the achievements that we as villagers can be proud of – it really brings us together; this is one of the major social things,” adding that it is a powerful tool that truly breaks down all the barriers and helps the people to feel good about themselves, both physically and mentally.

He noted that the sport has proven to be quite beneficial for the people of the village and, also for other communities because it helps them to make new friends, have fun, learn team unity, fairness of play, create good self-esteem and much more.

The match occurred on Sunday, January 13 at the Victoria football ground, which is at the back of the community centre in the village. It commenced at 17:00hrs and ended at about 19:30hrs.

Among his prizes as Man of the Match, Pompey was awarded a brand new Brighton and Hove Albion Jersey, which was brought to Guyana for the occasion by Lynette Lashley, a former executive member of Victoria Kings Football Club, who now resides in England.

The jersey was donated by Chris Hughton, a British citizen who is married to a Guyanese from Victoria. Over the years he has continued to make several donations to the Victoria Kings football club. Hughton is the coach of Brighton in the English Premier League and was also the coach at Newcastle United.

Lashley is the mother of Pierre Joseph, Tichard Joseph, Blain Lashley and Oral Lashley, all of whom represented the club. In addition, she still makes representation on behalf of the club in London where she is now based.

The game was well attended by persons from within the village of Victoria, as well as from the extended communities and as far as Georgetown. It was also well represented by persons who reside overseas but were visiting.