National footballers moved out of Buxton
… GFF seeking alternative venues
Guyana Chronicle
February 3, 2004
THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) will be seeking alternative venues for encampment for the national senior team, following the robbery committed on the players last Friday night in Buxton.
At a meeting yesterday, lasting almost some three hours, the decision was taken that the team will not remain in the troubled village for the remainder of their encampment.
As such the GFF had decided to put the players up at the Palace De Leon on Kitty Public Road for two days.
The players began occupying their hotel rooms last night and according to Public Relations Officer Frankie Wilson, other options will be considered today.
He said that they would be looking for other venues to put up the team.
Wilson said that the budget of the GFF does not accommodate for the team to be encamped in a hotel as some three to four other national teams will be encamped during the year.
The players were yet again warned not to walk with any jewellery during encampment. He said only legitimate wedding bands (rings) will be allowed in the camp.
The players were advised before the camp not to walk with any form of jewellery, but instead opted to wear their valuables, of which they were deprived.
According to reports, the players were robbed at the Buxton Community Centre Ground, while attending a Secondary Schools sports.
It was said that while on their way back to the camp, which is less than 200 metres from the ground, a group of armed bandits attacked and robbed them of their valuables.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Ovid Glasgow who was present at the meeting of the players and the executives yesterday at the GFC Pavilion again warned the players not to walk with their jewellery. Also in attendance yesterday was Technical Director Neider Dos Santos and some parents of the footballers.
The incident took place some time after 18:00 hrs and the bandits made good their escape into the village.