New window for local footballers to UK, European league
By Isaiah Chappelle
Guyana Chronicle
April 5, 2007
LOCAL footballers will get a new window to the United Kingdom and European professional leagues through Temptation Sport, a London-based agency.
Temptation Sport is a branch of Temptation Promotions Limited and Advertising and Marketing Director, Faizool Khan, said the agency would break into the local football in three prongs, working with the Guyana Football Federation (GFF).
During a press conference at Guysons in West Ruimveldt, UK-born Khan, whose brother, Kabir, has already donned national colours here, disclosed that the first aim of the Temptation Sport was to scout for European-based players who were eligible to play for Guyana.
He named two brothers, Carl and Leon Cort, as such possible players with Guyanese parentage, with Carl already experiencing national outing when he represented England at the Under-21 level.
Khan also disclosed that the 28-year-old Carl was bought for seven million pounds by New Castle United in 1999 and was now playing with Wolverthampton Wanderers in the Coca Cola Championship League.
Central defender Leon plays for Crystal Palace and has already scored seven goals from that position for the season, according to Khan.
Khan said it was important to have foreign-born stars in the national team, saying Temptation had its sights on another player who campaigned in Italy.
“Many Caribbean teams now call on European-based players to add a new dimension to their national squads.”
The second prong of interest of Temptation Sport is to find professional clubs for locally based Guyanese players, Khan said, and already identified the Caribbean leading goalscorer Nigel Codrington as one candidate for possible European football.
“We have 22 names on a list supplied by the GFF.”
He said, however, that the players must have the calibre and discipline to be selected for such opportunity.
Khan disclosed that the third prong was medium term plan to have a Centre of Excellence with an all weather astro turf in Georgetown.
“This will be an investment in grassroots football and will highlight Temptations’ commitment in youth development in Guyana.”
He said that Temptation/GFF partnership would approach the Minister of Sport Dr Frank Anthony to brief him on the plans and solicit the ministry’s assistance in getting the land for the Centre of Excellence.
Temptation Sport will also be approaching professional clubs in the USA and Europe to invest in the institution through branding, with the guarantee of first picking of players produced there, according to Khan.
“Young coaches from abroad will be invited down to train both youth and professional teams.”
GFF General Secretary George Rutherford said the national governing body was very “enthused” about the project.
“We look forward to the partnership with the ultimate aim of reaching the FIFA World Cup finals.”