Football can have positive impact on society – Nurse

Former Guyana Golden Jaguars Captain Christopher Nurse is the newest agent of change in football, following his appointment to the MLS Next Equity Action Committee.
The Major League Soccer (MLS) Next Equity Action Committee was described as a new diversity, equity and inclusion initiative that advocates for social equality in the sport of soccer.
During a Seminar launching the initiative Nurse explained to his colleagues in the MLS Next world that it is a cause that he can personally relate to, given his struggles with racial slurs and situations during his days of grassroots and club football.
Now, the former Golden Jags Captain believes that the Equity Action Committee is one that can benefit Guyanese football greatly, given Guyana’s racially diverse population.
“We need to make conscious efforts to heal racial divisions and genuinely seek policies and procedures that can unite and empower everyone to be given access to resources, education and support to be successful,” the MLS Next head Coach at Weston FC told the Guyana Times Sport.
Expounding on the need for such initiatives, Nurse highlighted that race issues should not only be limited to politics.
He commented, “Around the time of elections racial issues often become a contentious theme. Anti-Racism should not be seen as a political stance, it’s our responsibility to recognize inequalities in our societies and take steps to correct them.”
“In Guyana we say One Nation, One destiny. There’s no sport in the world that unite people of different ethnicities, colors and origins like football can. The demographic of Guyana is very diverse and that is growing Week by week.”
Highlighting the power of sport to act as a uniting force, the former Golden Jaguars International explained that football can make a positive impact.
“Football is a diverse powerful weapon for uniting people and providing hope and aspiration to the youth. We haven’t even begun to mobilize this powerful vehicle to its potential in Guyana but once the time arrives you will see the positive impact football can have on society,”
“It will take brave leaders to make the necessary actions in this space to ensure the work is done.”
The London-born Golden Jaguars player was appointed as Captain of the Guyanese team in 2011, leading up to Guyana’s FIFA World Cup 2014 campaign.