Wilbur Hope Memorial Inter School football tournament to be played in New Amsterdam

Aug 30, 2012 Sports

The inaugural Wilbur Hope Memorial Inter Secondary School football tournament is slated to get kicking on Monday September 17.
The competition, which is being organised by former N.A.M.S student and US Army Soldier Kevin Leroy Henry, will cater for Secondary schools in the New Amsterdam Canje area and according to Henry the tournament has been in the making for the past two years.

The Wilbur Hope trophy (inset) that will be contested for and the pavilion that was donated last year.

Back home on holiday, the former top New Amsterdam and Berbice sportsman stated that he is making full use of the opportunity to get the tournament up and running. He stated that he and Hope were good friends and since Hope’s demise he always wanted to do something in memory of his one time pal.
The former New Amsterdam resident stated that by organizing the activity it also gives him an opportunity to give back to the community that has given him so much. He hopes to make the tournament an annual affair and plans to make it bigger and better as time goes by. He said he is trying to get the business community to come on board which will be of much benefit to the community at large and especially the youths.
The late Wilbur Hope popular known as ‘Hopey’ a former resident of Tucber Park suffered from an acute heart condition and died in 2001 at the Young Age of 33. He was an ardent sportman who participated in numerous sporting activities including Football, both hard and softball Cricket, Athletics, Basketball, Table Tennis and Volleyball during his heyday, went on to represent Guyana in football and Athletics.
A former student of the Berbice High School, he also contributed tremendously in sports, community and youth development. After sickness slowed him down he turned to management, officiating and coaching all with fabulous success.
His relatives last year handed over a Pavilion which was constructed in the Tucber Park ball field in honour and memory of his 10th death anniversary to the people of the Tucber Park Community. A father of two, Hope subsequently migrated and continued in the same vein overseas until he succumbed to his illness.
While some details of the tournament is still being worked on, it has been agreed that each of the schools will be given a different uniform to participate in the tournament which will include tops and gloves for the goalkeepers. (Samuel Whyte)