Government to inject about $2 million into the Christmas Football Festival
Stories by Isaiah Chappelle
Guyana Chronicle
November 18, 2003
GOVERNMENT will inject nearly $2 million in this year’s Christmas Football Festival, staged by the Kashif & Shanghai Organisation, which will focus on HIV/AIDS education.
The plan was announced by Minister of Sport, Gail Teixeira, at a briefing, hosted by the ministry at its conference room in Main Street, yesterday.
Minister Teixeira disclosed that President Bharrat Jagdeo would provide the first prize as he did last year, which the organisers said should be the same as last year, $600 000, but amounts for the top prizes were still to be decided, while the ministry would donate the third prize, which was $200 000 last year, and the trophy.
Last year, the ministry provided the $300 000 second prize. That prize has been taken by Sprint 151 Collect, this year, along with the trophy.
The ministry will also be sponsoring the participation of the hinterland team, which should cost the ministry nearly a million dollars and if they go further in the championships the cost will go higher.
Minister Teixeira said to transport the Rupununi team to and from the coast would be between $240 000 and $300 000.
The ministry will also stand the accommodation, meals and transportation cost which will be between $600 000 and $1 million and could tip over the million dollars mark should the team climb in championship.
Rupununi’s first match is fixed for December 17 at Camptown ground in one of the Georgetown legs.
Minister Teixeira said the ministry was committed to the hinterland teams being part of the now biggest sporting event, perhaps behind Test cricket. She said that it would be great satisfaction should a hinterland team win.
“The pride. One day, if not this year, one day,” Minister Teixeira declared.
Minister Teixeira explained that the government became involved in injecting funds to the championships because the organisers had shown that sport could be well organised and sustainable.
“They also show that sport can be viable,” Minister Teixeira said.
The government became closely involved with the tournament when President Jagdeo was Minister of Finance, because of the spin-off benefits for the mining community.
The minister said another feature was that the Kashif & Shanghai Organisation got the business community involved, and now an NGO, referring to the Linden Care Foundation being drafted in to carry out the HIV/AIDS campaign during the championship.
“It is most timely for Kashif & Shanghai to lead in the campaign of HIV/AIDS in sport,” Minister Teixeira said, pointing out that other sports bodies were approached but did not respond as the organisers did now.
K&S director Kashif Mohamed said: “We continue to be deeply appreciative of the support that the tournament has received both from the minister and from His Excellency, the President. We will continue to strive to ensure that the tournament remains worthy of their patronage.”
Sprint’s Marketing Manager, Jewel Mbozi, announced that the collect call company would make a contribution to the Linden Care Foundation, along with its input in the championships that would be close to $1 million including the second cash prize and trophy.
Administrative Assistant of Linden Care Foundation Kathy Wilson said the NGO was responding to the HIV/AIDS situation in Linden, but was also doing general work in Region Ten, through sensitising and peer education programmes.
“It has always been the dream of Linden Care Foundation to work with and educate football players and their fans. This year, the Kashif & Shanghai Organisation has made it possible to get to these groups,” Wilson declared.
Work will start during the Linden launching of the championships with a dramatic presentation during the ceremony, then throughout the organisers will be present at the various venues distributing condoms and educational material.