Amerindian Heritage Games: Paruima, GT Kanaimas dominate football championships

The final day of the 2024 Amerindian Heritage Games was an exhilarating one as the curtains came down on the football championships at the Everest Cricket Ground, Carifesta Avenue. In the male division, Paruima (Region Seven) prevailed thanks to the tenacity and the encouragement of passionate supporters, while GT Kanaimas completed their hat-trick of titles in the female division.
The opening game of the night saw GT Kanaimas annihilate Region 9 All-Stars’ defence with their ability to make penetrative passes and convert shots. In the first half, Glendy Lewis gave the team a major advantage scoring a double within three minutes in the 21st and 24th minutes followed by Lisandra Henrito in the 42nd, Angelis Lawson in the 53rd and Jalade Trim in the 55th to seal their victory.
When speaking exclusively to Guyana Times Sport, Head Coach Lenin Thomas divulged the areas they worked on towards the success and was confident that his team could reap success in future Games.
Thomas said, “We’re so overwhelmed. We have worked hard and hard work pays off. So, the girls are very happy. We’re all happy. We’re so excited to win three in a row. Well, we had a solid defence line and the girls train for it.

So, they worked as a team. The cohesion was there. The composure was there, which led us to the victories. Well, it depends on training. You know, as I said, the team right now, the Kanaimas, we’re more of a team. We’re more of a family. You know, we all meet. We don’t have no kind of disagreements within the team. Everybody is one. We move as one. I think that leads to the success of the team as well.”
In the male division, the Region Seven outfit, led by Andrew Simmons, managed to pull off a come-from-behind victory as they demonstrated their ability to conquer and destroy against Region One. In the dying minutes of the first half, Nelon Lucas scored a goal which was eventually deemed illegal as a foul was committed on the keeper.
The second half would see shots coming from both sides of the field, but it was another strike from Lucas that would count to put the Region One outfit at an advantage. Paruima kept their composure as it led to Simmons netting a hat-trick in the 48th, 53rd and 63rd minutes.
While speaking to media operatives, Region Seven Captain Dokumar Teyjnarine expounded that his team will continue to defend the title and revealed the motivation towards the win.
Teyjnarine said, “Well, first of all, I want to thank the Most High for giving me the victory. It was tough defending my title, this title, but we’ll keep on trying on defending it. Scoring three, they scoring one. You guys coming from behind, I think. Well, my team, we play to the end. When any team scores against us, it motivates us to come back stronger: alright, and moving forward into, let’s say, next competition.”
The Heritage Games, one of the hallmarks of Amerindian Heritage celebrations, shines a spotlight on Indigenous sportsmanship and culture, and saw participation from 735 athletes. This year’s theme, “Many Voices, One Song”, emphasises unity and the rich heritage of Guyana’s Indigenous peoples. (Omar Mckenzie)