Ansa McAl/Stag Beer partners GFF for WCQ

May 30, 2015 Sports

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– Contract is performance based

By Franklin Wilson
The cry for help by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Normalisation has been heard and acted upon in a lucrative way by Ansa McAl Trading through its Stag Beer brand.

Yesterday at the Company’s Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara, Headquarters, CEO Ms Beverly Harper, Finance Executive Mr Troy Cadogan and PRO Ms Darshnie Yussuf joined GFF General Secretary Richard Groden, Golden Jaguars Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz and Captain Christopher Nurse to announce the partnership between the two entities.
In announcing the partnership, Ms Harper said that her company was grateful for the opportunity to be on board with the Golden Jaguars, a great team which has had many challenges.
“We’ve been on board many times, sometimes we are the last to get called but that’s ok, we don’t mind, we will always come to front whenever is needed. Our Golden Jaguars are very special to us.”
Ms Harper, a strong sports enthusiast, said that they are part of a Trinidadian group which

is all over the Caribbean and the Guyana subsidiary has been around for 22 years and is not going anywhere.
“We are just as nationalistic as any other company, sometimes I feel even more so because I am always out in my colors. I am hoping that the entire Guyana, just like they were out on Tuesday, I want the entire Guyana out there to lift these guys. They work hard, they’ve got 90 minutes and I know we can do this.”
The knowledgeable Harper said she is aware that St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Guyana’s opponent on June 10th (away) and 14th in Guyana is a formidable unit. They have just won the 2015 Winward Islands tournament playing unbeaten against St. Lucia, Grenada and Dominica.
The overseas based players who have returned were welcomed by Harper along with the home based crew.
“All we can do is support them and I want every single Stag drinking crew out there to support. We are here for you and I want everyone to come out and support this great team. We are really happy to be on board and we’ll be on board every single time. We are here for every single sport of a nationalistic nature.”
Head Coach Shabazz in his remarks informed that they have been in need for the past couple of months and is elated that Ansa McAl was now on board for the national team programme.
“At this point it is an important step because we find in the Caribbean that the corporate world always waits until the ship is sailing smooth and everything is nice and it looks like we’re going to get to where we are going and then they come abroad in their droves.”
In this instance Jamaal said, he would have seen a company which decided to hold hands with the GFF to come on board when it’s needed most conscious that it takes a lot of money to run football.
He cited the high costs related to bringing back players that are playing in Canada, USA and other countries professionally; encampment of teams and travelling, takes a lot of resources.
“By Ansa Mc Al stepping up at the start, not at the middle or afterwards, it is saying something very profound.”
Shabazz called for corporate partnerships in sports noting that the team is representative of the nation.
“We do not just represent the GFF, we represent the whole of Guyana and the feeling that the country gets when football is doing well, and it transcends the whole nation. It is not a football team that comes out of the group and advances in world cup qualifying, it is a country. And for a country to advance, all hands have to be put on deck,” Shabazz stated.
Captain Nurse in saying thanks on behalf of the players said that partnerships of this nature allows the players and coaching staff to elevate the standards and preparations in camp so the players can focus purely on performance and training.
“We promise as a team we are going to go against St. Vincent and give the best performance that we can to make our country proud and obviously to give back to the people who have given to us.”
GFF GS Groden expressed gratitude on behalf the Normalisation Committee stating that they are very pleased with the swiftness of Ansa McAl and its timely intervention in answering their call for help.
“We needed the support and we thank you for coming forward at this time. There was lots of work done behind the scenes and I would like those persons who were instrumental in making this happen.”
Groden also thanked the players who have made tremendous sacrifices to come and represent Guyana while also complimenting the media for its support.
The company handed over a cheque for an undisclosed amount to the GFF and noted that the performance of the team would dictate how they move forward indicating that it can get even better.

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