Latest update April 6th, 2025 12:03 AM
Latest News
- Exxon admits to operating above production rates in EIAs
- Oil sinks to pandemic lows; metals, soybeans slump as China retaliates against U.S. Tariffs
- Israel has turned two-thirds of Gaza into no-go zones, UN says
- ‘If the President’s award means anything, he would terminate Ramson’- Protestors
- Power China, Kalpataru sign US$422M contracts for extension of transmission lines for GPL
Odinga contented with Alpha’s performance
In an interview with the media yesterday, President of Guyana’s top football club, Alpha United, Odinga Lumumba and Wayne Dover, Coach, informed reporters at Water Chris Hotel, Waterloo Street, in relation to their return game against Herediano of Costa Rica last Friday at Guyana National Stadium, Providence.
With Alpha being the last Caribbean country in the 2011 CONCACAF Championships League, the President of the team thought that their performance was excellent at the National Stadium against their opponents as the game was drawn at 2-2. “I thought the team performed extremely well and it raises this question why we played so badly in Costa Rica.”
Alpha President Odinga Lumumba (centre) flanked by Coach Wayne Dover (left) and PRO Steve Ninvalle at yesterday’s briefing.
Lumumba is of the view that ‘travel time’ contributed to Alpha’s poor performance in Costa Rica. “The travel time was horrible and two of our mid-fielders (Jamaicans) were detained at the Airport from 8:30am to 4:30pm…it was only after we threatened to with-draw from the competition then our players were released from Immigration.”
According to Lumumba, the fact that the players were in Costa Rica playing on the new Stadium and was LIVE on ESPN, could have also contributed to their performance.
Lumumba was grateful of Caribbean Airways sponsorship, “…they got us free from Trinidad and back. I want to thank the Guyana public for their support and Courtney Benn who always provide financial support for us and also the Government of Guyana in particular the President.” Lumumba also thanked Mr. Colin Class of the Guyana Football Federation. “He was very helpful with his intervention throughout the Tournament.”
Alpha’s President received sums of $40,000US and $6,500US from CONCACAF. According to him, the money received was used as travelling fees, however a debt between four to five thousand US is still owed.
Lumumba thinks that it will take Alpha United another two years to get back in the Championships. “We stood our ground and tried to protect CFU and the Caribbean but it was very difficult…we have to reorganize and plan as it will take us another two years to get back there.”
Odinga Lumumba lamented that he cannot be investing money fundamentally to play a tournament at a certain level, a professional league is required. “Overall we did well and we were the last Caribbean country to be in the tournament, but fundamentally I cannot keep investing money just to play a tournament at a certain level, a professional league is needed…I am in discussion with the GFF and I think that I will get the go ahead to organize a professional league.”
According to him, a professional league will allow us to keep our best talent home. “We cannot play football for free…when I told the Jamaican Football Federation that we play football free in Guyana, his response was, “a what yall got there, Slavery deh there”…all the football teams and countries who are doing well have professional leagues…they are paid for training as a regular job.”
Lumumba thinks that the Guyana Football Federation has a responsibility to ensure and allow professional football without any road-blocks. “The referees and some officials from Guyana Football Federation benefits alone…they go and supervise matches all over the World…this is prostitution and it must come to an end. We must have a professional league to move forward….football is not for the officials to benefit, it is for the football team and the players to benefit.”
Wayne Dover commended his team on their discipline and effort shown. “ I would like to use this opportunity to congratulate the spectators on their turn out…I must commend the players on their discipline shown, I know it was an up-hill task and they stood to their game plan even though they did not win…the result is satisfying.”
Lumumba said that he is prepared to deposit his money but he must receive a guarantee and a commitment letter from the GFF. “I am prepared to organize a professional league and put my money up and also prepared to find seven potential individuals to participate with me but I am not going to do it unless I have a guarantee and a letter of commitment from the GFF…if not we will proceed to CONCACAF and get the professional league, GFF must not stand in the way.” (Juanita Hooper)
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
The One-Man Republic
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- There exists, tucked away on the margin of maps and minds, a country that has perfected... more
The U.S. “Joining” the Commonwealth: an unreasonable expectation
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- Recent media stories have suggested that King Charles III could “invite” the United... more
Weekend Cartoon
