In the informal meeting at the ministry, yesterday, Minister Teixeira, reiterated her call for female players to be part of the clubs, announcing the ministry would sponsor a women’s championship.

Minister Teixeira called on each club to have junior players to form a reservoir to tap on so that the ranks could have good players at all times.

The minister told the team leaders that the ministry was looking into having boots available at low costs, pointing out that the most importers pay on sport items was a 15 per cent tax.

Minister Teixeira disclosed that some items were not taxed at all, while others had just a five per cent tax, thus the importers were having a very high mark up on those items.

The minister said that the only sport equipment that were expensive were motor racing and rifle shooting because of the kind of equipment required.

Minister Teixeira said that the Kashif & Shanghai tournament was big, with big stakes, but it went beyond just being an event because it encouraged development of football.

It was through the Christmas Football Festival that hinterland teams were given an opportunity to play big-time football.

“Guyana is not that strip of coast that we have grown accustomed to. Thanks to Kashif & Shanghai that we had the opportunity in showcasing the interior teams,” Minister Teixeira said.

The minister said that in the past, hinterland teams were rotated for participation, sponsored by the ministry, but this year, the team was chosen from the Hinterland championships staged for Amerindian Heritage month.

From next year, more teams will compete in that tournament and the winning team will qualify for the Christmas Football Festival.

Minister Teixeira disclosed that she was impressed with the discipline of the hinterland teams, relating a time when she, along with President Bharrat Jagdeo, attended a tournament in the Rupununi and all the teams were present, ready to start when the presidential party arrived three minutes before the time. And it kicked off on time.

“It was an example of discipline,” Minister Teixeira said.

The minister recalled attending her first Kashif & Shanghai tournament back in 1998 and had a long wait because of the late arrival of the teams.

“Discipline encompasses how the team is managed and their deportment on the field,” Minister Teixeira said.

Minister Teixeira said the world today is based on time factor and she has never seen on television a match delayed because teams were late.

“Team spirit, punctuality and discipline are critical for success,” Minister Teixeira said.

The minister pointed out that football was so important as a business that prestigious magazine, the Economist, had featured the World Cup, analysing various aspects of its staging.

“Kashif & Shanghai has shown how sport helps in economic development,” Minister Teixeira said, pointing out that businesses thrive in Linden during the tournament, especially for the final on New Year’s Day.