Linden Beach football facility commissioned following Government grant

Jan 13, 2014 Sports

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The mining town of Linden has a remarkable reputation of producing reputable footballers and is the home of the inaugural edition of the Kashif and Shanghai yearly football extravaganza. Unfortunately, as against regular custom when the finals used to be played at the Mackenzie Sports Complex Ground, the event has been shifted to the National Stadium, Providence and despite the most carefully constructed explanation by the K&S principals, the residents of the Upper Demerara village are adamant that they have been ‘done in.’

They say when one door closes, another opens and so it is that following the closure of the door to the K&S football extravaganza, Linden residents have been blessed with a spanking beach football facility, situated in the Bayroc community and dubbed ‘Bayroc/Coolrunnins Beach football facility.’ The sand filled arena was commissioned at the Bayroc Sports Club and Training Centre, Saturday evening last.
The construction of the facility was made possible after the region received a grant of approximately one million dollars under the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport community grounds development and the inauguration ceremony was to have been graced by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Frank Anthony, who was scheduled to deliver the keynote address. However, the subject Minister was unable to attend the function and Ms Leslyn Boyce deputised on his behalf.
The organizer/coordinator was Rollin Tappin, who delivered short remarks while giving an overview of the project. He said that he has spent over three turbulent years working strenuously to promote the sport in Linden and other parts of the country. He further said that during that time FIFA had sponsored several coaching programmes but inexplicably excluded beach football. “This facility is welcomed and will give new impetus to the sport,” said Mr Tappin. He said also that the facility is also geared to facilitate beach volleyball, another growing sport in the Linden community. To that extent, the organizers had planned an exhibition game of volleyball but after experiencing teething problems decided to abort the idea.
Mr. Tappin further revealed that the project was done in three phrases; workmen first removed all debris from the plot before relaying with sand. The construction crew then built a wall to facilitate advertising and bill boards while refurbishing the bleacher (50ft X 77ft), which is capable of seating over 300 persons. Mr Tappin also said that plans are in train to construct a changing room and to expand the bleacher to accommodate 1000 patrons in the near future.
Several other dignitaries attended the function including, Regional Chairman, Sharma Solomon, Upper Demerara Football Association executive, Claude Williams, Member of Parliament, Vanessa Kissoon, Chairman of the Interim Management Committee of the Major and Town Council (Linden), Orrin Gordon, Technical Development Officer (GFF), Lyndon France, who deputised for President (GFF), Christopher Matthias and the project contractor, Dexter David among others.
“I wish to extend apologies on behalf of Minister (Frank) Anthony who is engaged in other Ministerial assignments,” Ms Boyce greeted the gathering, while assuring them that the project has the blessings of the MCY&S. She lauded the efforts of Mr Tappin while assuring the youths that the facility was designed specifically for their development and recreation. Ms Boyce also revealed that the facility would soon benefit from additional lights due to the input of her Ministry and other stakeholders.
Mr Solomon also beseeched residents to care the facility. He said that the main objective of the facility is to provide opportunities for young people and for them to engage in healthy fun. He proffered the wish that very soon Linden will be regarded as the home of beach football in Guyana. “This is your facility and while it is situated in Bayrock, it is for the use and enjoyment of all residents of Linden; you must preserve it and take good care of it,” implored Mr Solomon.
Mr Gordon traced back the events of the inauguration of beach football in Guyana and credited the efforts of Garth Nelson who first sold the idea to the community. He also lauded Mr Tappin for continuing the tradition as well as officials of the MCY&S for their unstinted support. “I trust that Linden would be the beach football capital of Guyana before very long,” exhorted Mr Gordon.
Mr France noted that the facility could not have found a better home because of the sandy terrain of the Region 10 community. “Mr Tappin and other football administrators of the region recognized the benefits of a facility of this nature and even amidst the doubters, went passionately ahead with its construction,” noted Mr France.  He referred to the efforts of the committee as a good demonstration of bottom up leadership and said that such determination forced members of the top tier, the GFF executive, to follow suit. “But we happily did since the GFF has the mandate to foster football development and are intent on fulfilling that mandate,” he assured. Mr France also revealed that the GFF had supported the beach football community in the past while sponsoring a course on the intricacies of the sport.
The beach footballers engaged is two matches just after the facility was declared open by Ms Boyce.

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