Dear Sir
In your most recent publication you carried an article headlined “Fans, Cheer Leaders Told: “COME OUT IN BLUE TO SUPPORT ANGUILLA’S MATCH VS NICARAGUA”.
The report stated that: “President of the Anguilla Football Association, Mr Raymond Guishard, and Secretary, and Mr. Alkins Rogers [sic], made [the] call [for] all fans and cheer leaders … to turn out in large numbers, wearing anything blue, and with colourful buntings, to lavish their support on the team.”
I was one of many who watched the match. Most of the spectators wore blue, as requested. Some found it all a bit odd though. Why? Because a few minutes’ search online indicates that the first team playing strip colours of the Anguilla national side are orange (with blue as the second colours). Furthermore, the first team colours of Nicaragua are – er – blue! So naturally, Anguilla played in orange and Nicaragua played in blue; all very natural and to be expected.
Still, our officials were telling people in Anguilla to turn up wearing the colours of the opposition! One can only hope that there is a good reason for this because, surely, one of the requirements for being paid for such a position is that they should know something as fundamental as what Anguilla’s playing strip colours are. Did the number of people turning up in blue give the Nicaraguan team the feeling they were playing in front of their own fans, and could this apparent own goal on the part of our administrators have helped influence the result? For sure, some Anguilla supporters were confused enough, at one point, to be cheering for the opposing team.
Other than that, all kudos to the Anguilla team and its coach. They played very well and at times were just unlucky. Special credit to our goalie who made some saves which would be the pride of goalkeepers playing in the top flight in the professional leagues.
Other than telling spectators to wear the colour of the opposing team, credit too to the AFA President, Secretary and others involved in organizing the match. It can’t be easy but it went off very well indeed, and since the last time many of us were at the stadium, there were some welcome improvements (including the popular snack bar). One development that caught the eye of a few people was the big sign on the building naming it the “Raymond E.G. Guishard Technical Center” [sic]. They wondered how many stakeholders had been consulted on what some could consider to be self-aggrandizement. Doubtless we will be told in due time.
Sincerely
Orange is the new blue
