Julian Edward Moe – A talent ruined

Sep 30, 2012 Sports

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– former Guyana international 1983 – 1987

Statistician Charwayne Walker continues his series of features on Guyana’s World Cup Football players. Today we are pleased to feature Julian Edward Moe, Guyana international 1983 – 1987.
The year was 1987 and the National Team led by Pele Football Club’s Terrence Archer deplaned at the Grantley Adams International Airport, Bridgetown, Barbados to contest an International friendly against the host.
Whilst they were clearing immigration, the most skillful and flamboyant playmaker, Julian Edward Moe was apprehended for possession of an illicit drug. He was subsequently charged and sentenced to 18 months in prison.
To make matters worse, the then Guyana Football Association banned Moe for life. At 24-years-old, Julian Edward Moe was the most gifted midfielder in Lennox Arthur’s arsenal but he paid a heavy price for misunderstanding his role as an ambassador.
However, before that moment of miscalculation and poor judgment which unfolded at the Grantley Adams Airport in March 1987, Julian Moe was the kid with the ‘golden touch’ although he never featured at the National Youth Level as a result of no National Under-19 teams in 1981 and 1982.  His elevation to the Senior National Team in 1983 was inevitable.
Moe was Western Tigers Football Club outstanding playmaker in the 1981 and 1982 in the Demico League division-one tournaments.  He also featured regularly for Georgetown in Inter Association competitions.
So it was no surprise when the Western Tigers star midfielder was included in Coach Mervyn ‘Pug’ Wilson 1983 National Squad for the Caribbean Football Union Senior Championship. His first outing in National colours was the return game between Guyana and Barbados at the GCC, Ground Bourda.
From the bench he observed the mastery of Neville ‘Zipper’ Johnson and Colin Hinds who scored the goals that sent the Bajans packing from the 1983 CFU campaign. His first touch in National colours came in the next match against Antigua & Barbuda at the same GCC, the game ending 0-0.
The return fixture in St. John’s where the host won 4-0 was Moe’s first loss as a senior. The result meant that Guyana was eliminated from the 1983 CFU Championship. Moe’s next international assignment was to Trinidad & Tobago for two friendly matches against the hosts as they prepared for the 1983 CFU Finals in French Guiana.
In 1984, Moe’s international campaign started with a 2-0 loss to T&T at GCC. Guyana was also defeated in the return encounter in Port of Spain, 3-1 but according to Coach Lennox Arthur, Moe created several opportunities but the Guyanese strikers failed to convert.
He {Moe} produced the corner that allowed Lannie Maxwell to score the lone Guyanese goal. The next opponent for Moe was the India National Team that deplaned at the Timehri International Airport a confident bunch after defeating Trinidad & Tobago in Port of Spain.
But the boys from Delhi will never forget the name Julian Moe. He tormented their defence netting a memorable double and creating the final goal that Terrence Archer scored, Guyana triumphed 3-0.
His next match was a 1-0 World Cup Qualifier loss to Suriname in Paramaribo. Moe was spectacular in the return fixture which Guyana drew 1-1 at GCC. His international programme in 1984 concluded with 1-1 draws against Suriname at GCC and once again he created the goals that Nigel ‘Mice’ Cummings scored in both matches.
The following year, 1985, Moe and company were too much for the Mighty Cuba culminating in a 1-0 series victory at GCC. This win was followed by another 1-0 triumph for Guyana over hosts French Guiana, Anthony Williams was the Guyanese marksman.
He failed to reproduce the same form that mesmerized the Frenchmen in Cayenne against Suriname at Camp Ayanganna in the next round of the CFU Championship and regrettably Guyana lost 1-0.
Moe’s only internationals in 1986 were for Western Tigers against Transvaal of Suriname, the visitors won both matches at the GCC Ground. Strange enough the star midfielder was amongst the spectators when Guyana engaged Barbados in two friendly internationals in June 1986 at GCC.
He also missed the two internationals against Venezuela at Camp Ayanganna, November 1986 and the opening Olympic qualifier against the Bahamas in Nassau. After the exodus of Anthony Williams, Dion Roberts and Oscar Rodney in Miami January 1987, Moe was recalled to the National fray for the return Olympic Qualifier against the Bahamas at GCC Bourda, this was the last time he donned National colours.
International tours
1983     Antigua & Barbuda – CFU Championship
1983      Trinidad & Tobago – two friendly internationals
1984    Suriname – World Cup Qualifier
1985    French Guiana – CFU Championship
1987    Barbados – Friendly international

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