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‘Screw’ Richmond Schoolboys Memorial Football Tournament launched
– Opening Ceremony set for February 28 at MSC
By Rawle Welch
Into its 4th year of existence, the Edward ‘Screw’ Richmond Memorial
Members of the Local Organising Committee (sitting) pose with students of participating schools on Wednesday afternoon at the LEAP Building in Linden.
Schoolboys Football Tournament was launched during a simple ceremony which was conducted, at the LEAP Building in Linden on Wednesday afternoon.
In attendance at the launching were members of the Local Organising Committee that included James Craig, Mayfield Taylor-Trim, Wanda Richmond and referees representative Rollin Tappin along with students and teachers of the participating schools.
Taylor-Trim speaking at the occasion gave a brief insight about the genesis of the tournament which was set up in memory of the late Edward ‘Screw’ Richmond, who represented the Mackenzie community which was later renamed Linden in a number of sports, but most notably, he became the first resident of the community to be selected on the national football team in 1962.
According to Taylor-Trim, the Memorial Foundation was formed in 2008 and registered in the state of New York, USA and was the brainchild of a former friend of Richmond in Compton ‘Chatta’ London, who discussed the idea with other friends of the late footballer and hence it was registered one year later and still exists unto now.
Among those who formed the Foundation apart from London include Lloyd Braithwaite, Keith Anthony, Samuel Griffith, Richard Thompson, William Brummell, Ashton Angel, Winston Blair, Ernest Joseph, Carl Benjamin, Leroy Allen and Derick Boyce.
The Foundation was set up primarily to honour Richmond through the staging of a football tournament for school children to be played on a round robin format during the months of February-April.
The vision of the Organisers is to include schools in other areas of Region 10 in a few years’ time.
Craig in his remarks spoke of the two changes made for the tournament this year which will see the previous age group of eligibility move from 18 to 20 years and the inclusion of Kwakwani Secondary School who will make their debut in the competition.
He said this year’s tournament is anticipated to be much more competitive, especially with the inclusion of Kwakwani Secondary School, while the decision to move the age of eligibility will also add some more skill and competitiveness to the tournament.
The tournament will be guided by the rules that govern FIFA and will be played on a home and away basis with the top four teams with the most points moving on to the semi-finals.
The tournament according to Craig has a new sponsor on board in the form of the Guyana United Development Association who has undertaken to procure all the trophies and prizes that will be distributed at the conclusion of competition.
Craig mentioned also that an additional award will be given this year which will see the successful recipient winning an all expense scholarship as he prepares for the CXC.
It will take the form of offsetting all expenses during the student’s preparations to write the CXC.
Richmond, who has a wealth of experience in the field of sport, spoke of some of the future plans of the Foundation among them being the eventual inclusion of primary schools to vie for supremacy at their level.
The plan also is to organize a tournament for girls in the secondary schools, adding that for both initiatives a robust sensitization programme will be initiated shortly.
The Opening Ceremony is planned for February 28 at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) ground and all the teams are expected to be decked out in uniforms for the occasion.
The Ceremony will be followed by an exhibition match between defending champions Harmony Secondary School and an All-Star selection from the best players of the schools that participated last year. Starting time is 14:00 hrs.
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