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PM Hinds opens Banks Beer/GFA Cup
Director of Sport, Mayor also in attendance
Banks Beer Cup 004: Caption- Prime Minister Samuel Hinds (with microphone) addressses the teams and fans in the presence of Director of Sport Neil Kumar (2nd right), Banks DIH’s Carlton Joao (next to PM), GFA President Vernon Burnett (2ND left) and Mayor Hamilton Green (3rd right) yesterday.
Before a fair-sized crowd that defied the inclement weather in support of the second annual Banks Beer/Georgetown Football Association (GFA) Cup, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds declared open the competition in an impressive Opening Ceremony that also saw in attendance Director of Sport Neil Kumar, the 16 representative teams, Sales and Marketing Executive of Banks DIH Carlton Joao and GFA President Vernon Burnett, at the GCC Ground, Bourda yesterday.
Hinds in his remarks said he was glad to see a resurgence of football, but yearned to see teams in every school in the future. According to the PM this is necessary for the further development of the sport. “And we hope too that football would become an important feature in our tourism industry.” The sport he said can definitely be something that tourist can be interested in whenever they arrive in this country.
President of the GFA Burnett said the association is once again pleased to have partnered with Banks DIH and the Banks Beer brand. “I am sure that come next year we will be bigger and better. To you the teams I know that you have been training hard for this tournament and I am sure that the best team will win the tournament. To you the spectators I thank you for always sticking with us and some of you will surely walk away with some beautiful prizes.”
Joao said in 2011 when the tournament was proposed to them, it was taken into consideration, but after then everything else was history. “The players have the opportunity to play and showcase their skills.” According to Joao, the competition has the potential to develop the sport and players alike.
City Mayor Hamilton Green said that over the years the game of football has grown in Guyana, adding that there needs to be an end to the division that currently permeates the sport for growth to continue. “I understand that in the East there is another tournament which ought not to be. I just hope that my remarks will be energizing to those who organize football”.
He, however, said that sport should benefit all Guyana and not just one particular group which did not resonate well with Director of Sport Neil Kumar who in his remarks refuted the claims, citing that the government has over the years contributed significantly to the development of sport in Guyana.
Prior to the speeches there was the ceremonial march past of teams contesting the tournament. Twenty two teams were named to contest the tournament, but only sixteen will compete in the round of sixteen, which is the knock out stage.
Meanwhile, GFA officials were consistent in their pronouncement that despite the persistent inclement weather any water that saturated the outfield would be drained off the ground in order for the matches to be played as planned.
However parts of the ground was still soggy, but that did not deter Sunburst Camptown and Houston Stars from playing the first match.
Also, minutes before the start of the first game the crowd had begun to build up to witness their teams in competition.
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