St. John’s Antigua- Four former administrators and players were recently bestowed with the status of honourary membership within the Antigua & Barbuda Football Association (ABFA) and with the exception of being able to cast votes during general elections, will enjoy the full benefits that are normally associated with the title.
Former director of sports, commentator and footballer Patrick “Pat” White, ex-national player and coach Winston “Pin” Hewlett, former president of the Antigua & Barbuda Football Referees Association (ABFRA) Ivor Davis and former sponsor and ardent supporter Mitchell Aflack are now honourary members of the ABFA.
Hewlett, who represented Antigua at the national level for many years, was honoured by the gesture.
“I had never expected to be here receiving such an award. What I did was to enjoy myself. I love the game so much that nothing else around bothered me, it was only what I was doing and that my fans were happy. Fans, up to this day, who keep stopping me and saying, ‘you know you were the best and that makes me feel very good.’
“Thank you also to the people that played with me because without them I could do nothing so I would like you all to remember all of those who played with me.”
Davis, who served as president of the referees association for 31 consecutive years before his retirement in the late 90s, said he never expected to achieve so much via the sport of football.
He urged players and officials of today to think about giving rather than of receiving.
“When I came in the football I did not come in to get any benefits for myself. I came to help the game and what I would like to say to everybody is do what you can do for football. Don’t think what football can do for you and just as I had reached where I never thought I would have reached, once you give football your all, you will get it back from football and thanks very much for recognising me.”
The newly inducted honourary members will receive tickets to all Antigua & Barbuda’s Benna Boys home game in the CONCACAF semi-final round of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying competition.
