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Hear Me Out: Strategic sports Investment is key to Guyana’s future
By Rawle Toney
Kaieteur Sports – I have nothing against cricket. Everyone from the Caribbean loves cricket, even if they aren’t particularly skilled at playing it, including me. Cricket is part of our DNA.
Rawle Toney
However, while cricket enjoys widespread attention and investment, there is a critical conversation we must have about how sports development in Guyana is approached.
Too often, our investments are heavily skewed toward cricket, sometimes at the expense of other sports where communities have already demonstrated clear strength.
A strategic, data-driven approach to sports investment is needed, one that nurtures existing talent in communities where it naturally flourishes while thoughtfully introducing or expanding disciplines where there is untapped potential.
Players like Leon Johnson, hailing from St. Cuthbert’s Mission, and Keemo Paul from Saxacalli, emerged from these communities to represent both Guyana and the West Indies with distinction in cricket.
Their success demonstrates that talent can indeed be unearthed from these regions. But it also underscores the importance of channeling investment into sports where communities already have a strong foundation.
Take football, for example. It is the sport where indigenous communities in Guyana have excelled the most.
Just this past Saturday, President Irfaan Ali announced that former West Indies cricketers Ramnaresh Sarwan and Roger Harper would work with indigenous communities to strengthen their representation in Guyana’s cricket structure.
This is encouraging news. Using respected names like Sarwan, one of Guyana’s most recognizable cricket figures, is a smart way to inspire young athletes.
The announcement, made at the Heritage Games during Amerindian Heritage Month at the Everest Cricket Ground, reflects a genuine commitment to extending cricket’s reach nationwide and giving our national teams a deeper identity.
But, it is important to note that the Heritage Games are best known for their football tournament.
Football is overwhelmingly the most popular sport among indigenous communities, and its players have made significant contributions to Guyana’s sporting landscape at every level.
In August, for instance, a predominantly indigenous U14 girls’ team represented Guyana at the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Challenge Series. They went undefeated in the group stage before falling to French Guiana in the semi-finals in a performance that highlights the strong foundation of football in these communities.
While cricket has a presence, football continues to produce the most national team players and remains the sport indigenous communities actively play.
Targeted, strategic investments in sports must reflect these realities. For example, Linden is receiving significant cricket infrastructure funding despite the community historically excelling in football, basketball, and track and field.
Per capita, Linden has produced more Olympians and international athletes than any other part of Guyana—but mostly in athletics, football, and basketball, not cricket.
This is not to suggest that cricket should be neglected. Far from it. But if our goal is to maximize talent and competitiveness, communities should be supported in the sports where they already thrive.
Guyana cannot lead the world in every discipline, but we can become highly competitive in those sports where our people have proven strength.
President Ali’s passion for sports is undeniable. His commitment to advancing Guyana’s sporting sector is clear.
Still, it is equally important that his advisors present a full picture that indigenous communities would benefit immensely from structured football facilities and stronger collaboration with the Guyana Football Federation.
Strategic investment in football, alongside cricket and other sports, will ensure Guyana continues to develop a diverse, competitive sporting identity.
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