Latest update November 5th, 2024 1:00 AM
Region Nine pushing on with Ministry’s support
Some members of the Rupununi football squad take time out for a photograph following a hectic practice session at the Tabatinga Ground yesterday. Standing left is Coach Gary La Rose.
The Region Nine football team that is scheduled to compete in this year’s Kashif and Shanghai football championship is stepping up preparations for what coach Gary La Rose believes is a date with destiny.
La Rose said that despite the fact that there are a few hitches, squad members believe in themselves and overcoming the hurdles ahead.
The coach is maintaining that although he is yet to see all members of the squad due to the vastness of the region and the problems with transportation, those who have turned up for practice are showing unprecedented tenacity. “They (the squad) are showing a basic characteristic that is needed in sports today and that is determination.”
“I am very pleased with what I am seeing. The guys are putting aside a lot of other things that they have to do just to come out and train. I can say this without fear of contradiction, we may not have the best team in the Kashif and Shanghai competition but we will produce the most determined bunch of players,” the coach said.
La Rose warned that Region Nine would not be participating to make up numbers and has a few cards up its sleeve. He noted that one of its members is a former senior national midfielder while two others are at present playing First Division in Georgetown.
“They will join when we get to the Capital City.” The squad trains twice per day and has been shuttling between the St Ignatius and Tabatinga grounds.
The Kashif and Shanghai competition will kick off on December 14. The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport has undertaken to bring the Region Nine team out for the competition and will be footing the bill for transportation, meals and accommodation while the team is away from home.
Upon their arrival in Georgetown Region Nine will have at least two warm up games. There, La Rose will join forces with Ministry coach Dennis `Chow’ Hunte. According to La Rose, there was a paucity of footballs for the squad to train with but that was alleviated with a call to Parliamentary Secretary Steve Ninvalle who provided several.
He added that Ninvalle is scheduled to have discussions with the Region Nine Regional Chairman Clarindo Lucas to see how the RDC can assist with transporting of players from the South and North Pakaraimas, and South Central Rupununi to practice.
“We are thankful for the effort that the Ministry of Sport and in particular Mr. Ninvalle is making and our team is determined to show that their efforts are not in vain. We have not had the perfect training camp, we still have not gotten all our players together as yet, but we still have two weeks to go and we will be ready by then,” La Rose promised.
The Region will be making a return to the Kashif and Shanghai fold after an absence of four years.
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