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Roy Beepat versus “Fip” Motilall: Time to rumble
Sep 04, 2010 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon
Just when you thought it was safe to travel on the East Bank highway, another product will fill up the stadium. It is not football, cricket or a musical concert, it is a boxing match set up by no other than His Excellency. In the arena are Roy Beepat, owner of Giftland Office Max and “Fip” Motilall of Synergy Holdings Inc.
My money is on Roy. I know the gentleman. He’s being around a long time and has a far more impressive statistical outlay than “Fip.” Beepat has a record of success in the ring that makes him the favourite. But then again that is only my choice.
I don’t know “Fip.” He came up to my table at Oasis Café three weeks ago where he was introduced to me by Mark Benschop. Looking at “Fip”, it seems to me that he will have a longer reach than Roy. He’s taller and lighter and will move around the ring quickly wearing down the Giftland Office Max king.
I would warn the Giftland king to be watchful of his opponent. “Fip” is not transparent in the ring. You don’t know when he will appear and where he’s coming from. His jabs are conspiratorial. And he has this tendency to hit below the belt. Governmental people’s money will be on “Fip” simply because of his trainers and advisors. Motilall’s trainer has chalked up twelve years of experience as a manager. His experience has made “Fip” into a subtle fighter. The difference between the two fighters is in the area of psychology. “Fip” knows he cannot lose because his manager is a winner. Roy on the other hand knows he hasn’t got high priced trainers.
There is a “but” however. “Fip” is enamoured with his patron because of his long exposure to management but success is another matter all together. Motilall’s patron is no Alex Ferguson. Sir Alex has a long record of outstanding victories with Manchester United. One cannot say the same of the man responsible for “Fip” being in the ring. Being a manager is one thing. Being a successful manager is a totally different concept all together. I don’t care how many powerful people are backing “Fip,” my money is on the Gitfland monarch.
I think the longer reach of “Fip” is what his advisors are banking on. But so far, that reach hasn’t reached anything. “Fip” is a fighter who depends on luck while Beepat is a thinker. The strategy is to bob and weave and wear down the Water Street princes. But “Fip” has to land and he never lands. Once Roy catches him, and lands that devastating right punch that made Giftland a name, then “Fip” will take the count. I am saying boldly that the fight will not go the distance. Talking about psychology, the Giftland tiger will have the viewers on his side.
All the President’s men will be in the VIP boxes chanting for “Fip” but around the stadium the crowd’s favourite will be the man from Gitfland Office Max. I heard a group of people from Kaieteur News, the AFC, PNC, Stabroek News plan to shout at “Fip” with the words “Be more transparent “Fip”, meaning that “Fip” must display what moves he has. Mark Benschop is the funny guy in all of this. He told me he has known “Fip” a long time now but because of the people who are financing “Fip” and managing his career, he will have to support the Giftland Office Max king.
So how this bout came about? The President, speaking to a group of land-leasers this week, told them that Giftland Office Max has been given leased land to build a shopping complex at Turkeyen next to where I live behind the Convention Centre. His Excellency said that Beepat assured him that the complex will be completed in a year’s time but three years have passed and there is nothing going up on the land. The President further intoned that if the land is to be reclaimed the first thing that will happen would be a resort to the courts.
Interestingly enough while denouncing the inactivity of Giftland Office Max, the President remains silent on the track record of “Fip” Motilall. Up to the time of writing, there is not one single, I repeat, one single piece of evidence that Mr. Motilall has built a road or a street or a highway, in any part of the world. Yet he is entrusted with 15 million American dollars to build a road in very formidable terrain in our interior.
See you tonight at the Stadium.
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