Latest update April 4th, 2025 6:13 AM
Ministry coach assisting K&S bound Lethem team
Side to arrive in the City December 15
Steve Ninvalle
Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports football coach Dennis ‘Chow’ Hunte is currently in Lethem working with a representative team from the area, which has been sponsored by the ministry, to compete in this year’s Kashif and Shanghai football championship.
The team, which was expected to be named last week, is set to travel to the city on December 15 and will be involved in training sessions at the Carifesta Avenue Sports Complex ground, formerly GNS.
According to Parliamentary Secretary in the sports ministry, Steve Ninvalle, the team will be engaged in a practice game on the 16 as they fine tune their preparations. He informed that Hunte was staying in Lethem for a 10-day period to assist the team.
Ninvalle, who was in Lethem recently, noted that while there were a few hitches in assembling the players from the vast region and the lack of active participation by the Rupununi Football Association, there were some positives. The PS noted that contact was made with sports organiser Daniel Gajie, who put systems in place for the teams training schedule.
A steering committee was formed to aid the smooth flow of the side’s preparedness for the major encounter. He applauded the efforts of Gajie and his team. Ninvalle disclosed that several members of the side were playing their football in neighbouring Brazil.
Meanwhile, in a telephone interview with Coach Hunte in Lethem early last week, he disclosed that he was enthused by the ability of the players even though he did not see all of them as yet.
Several were due in from Brazil and other areas over this past weekend. In the interim, Hunte noted that he was working with finishing techniques with the members present. On the players he did not see at the time of the interview, Hunte informed that area Coach Gary LaRose informed that they had very good talent.
On the side’s chances, Hunte pointed out that every team has a chance in this tournament. He said that Georgetown teams may feel that the boys from the southernmost region of the country were a walkover, but they will be in for a surprise.
Questioned on the additional programme he has been conducting in Lethem, the coach informed that there is a wealth of talent among the youths there and what they needed to help them expand was exposure. The exposure ne informed, was necessary for them to build self confidence and to test their skills against opposition away form home.
He called for systems to be put in place for them to travel out of the area to play football and expose their ability.
Hunte stated that some form of collaborative programme could be worked between the ministry of sports and Amerindian Affairs that from time to time the talented players could possibly be involved in an exchange programme where the players could be attached to clubs and play to get valuable experience, which would also help the others in the area when they return.
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