India’s national football players and officials pose with Sport Minister Dr. Frank Anthony and GFF officials at the MYC&S compound
The visiting India football team paid a courtesy call on Sport Minister Dr. Frank Anthony on August 23. The minister wished them well in their friendly showdown with the ‘Golden Jaguars’ — Guyana’s senior national football team — at the National Stadium, Providence on August 24.
“We want to wish you well for the game. We’re looking forward to a great match, but be warned that our guys have been training very hard… so don’t expect a pushover,” the minister intimated.
Dr. Anthony said partnerships like these will only serve to strengthen the relationship between Guyana and India.
“This is a new beginning from which we can have more football teams and other sports teams visit these shores. This is an ideal opportunity for us to start expanding our relationship through sports.” The minister took the opportunity to inform the contingent that the Indian government played a massive role in the construction of the National Stadium, which will be used for the eagerly anticipated encounter. The facility was built by Indian firm Shapoorji Paloonji through a US$19 million grant and US$6 million soft loan from the Indian government.
Manager of the visiting delegation, Mandar Tamhane, thanked the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) for the invitation to play here, and promised his guys would put on a good show for the Guyanese public.
Also present at the event were acting president of the GFF, Franklin Wilson; manager of the ‘Golden Jaguars,’ Mark Xavier; and FIFA Agent Faizal Khan. The August 24 encounter will kick off at 19:30h, while the preceding game will pit defending champions Pele against Linden’s Topp XX in a FastBall match-up.
