IGG football should return to its original status says Statistician Charwayne Walker

Dec 10, 2025 Sports

Kaieteur Sports – Statistician Charwayne Walker has expressed the belief that football at the Inter Guiana Games (IGG) level should return to its original status of full field play rather than the indoor format.

Walker opines that the futsal edition cannot develop our future national players.

When the legendary Oscar Theodore Donald and Egbert Vangenderen met with their Suriname and French Guiana counterparts in Paramaribo in August of 1967 to plan the inaugural games, organised football was the sport that initiated the games with host Suriname, French Guiana and Guyana. Suriname won that historic event. Oscar Theodore Donald led Guyana delegation to that first Inter Guiana Games football tournament in Suriname in August of 1967.

IGG football should return to its original status says Statistician Charwayne Walker

From left; Coach Lennox Arthur, Captain Monty Wilson and Trainer Clyde Brown with the Forbes Burnham Trophy won at the IGG.

Walker further disclosed that the following year, the tournament was hosted by Guyana and Suriname again prevail in 1968. But although Guyana lost those encounters several youths were elevated to the national senior team in 1969 and 1970 including goalkeeper Michael Hamden and Donald ‘Casa’ Neblette featured against the touring English amateurs in 1969.

The following year Michael Hamden, Michael Pierre, Lennox Arthur, David Wolford and Clyde

‘Farmer’ Browne were outstanding against a powerful Trinidad team in1970, were all products of the Inter Guiana Games football series.

Walker asked, ‘Could we introduce any player to the senior national team from the recent fustal Inter Guiana Tournament’.

Action in the then Burnham Cup which was part of the IGG in its early period.

Guyana won its first Inter Guiana Games Football Tournament in 1971 under Coach Lennox Arthur and Trainer Clyde ‘Farmer’ Browne, two members of the historic 1967 squad that invaded Suriname.

Lennox Arthur was the man calling plays again when Guyana playing under the captaincy of Patrick ‘Labba’ Barton lifted the Forbes Burnham Trophy in 1973.

Several players from that 1973 Inter Guiana Games triumph went on to play an integral part in Guyana’s first World Cup victory in July 1976. Vibert ‘Durdy’ Butts was the man that scored Guyana’s first World Cup goal. Keith ‘Wiler’ Niles sealed the deal and man of the match goalkeeper Wendell Sandiford was outstanding.

Walker informed that, Terrence ‘Susuzie’ Nichols also had his moments and not forgetting that Denzil ‘Hunky Brains’ Thompson was one of the reserves keepers.

He opines, ‘Let’s forget about the futsal and return the Inter Guiana Games football tournament to its original format.

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