Playing for Guyana is an oppportunity Samantha Banfield cherishes

September 19, 2024

Over the years, Caribbean nations have turned to soccer players with dual nationality to represent them at international tournaments.

About seven years ago while with Pickering Soccer Club, teammate Kayla DeSouza alerted Samantha Banfield about an opportunity to represent Guyana.

At the time, most of the country’s national players were Canadian-born.

Banfield was eligible through her paternal grandmother – Monica Banfield – who relocated from Guyana to Grenada before coming to Toronto in 1981. She passed away last August at age 94.

The youngest member at her first training camp in 2017 was selected to represent the South American country at the Confederation of North, Central American & Caribbean Association of Football (CONCACAF) Under-15 championship at the IMF Academy in Florida in August 2017.

“That was a cool experience,” Banfield said. “I did not know what to expect going in. I enjoyed spending time with the local girls and learning more about the culture. My dad joined me and that is the only time he has seen me play for them.”

Playing for Guyana is an opportunity Samantha Banfield will always cherish (Photo by Ron Fanfair)

Before playing for the country, she spent a few days there while acquiring her Guyanese passport.

“I didn’t get to meet many people and move around the country,” said Banfield who turned 20 last February. “But I enjoyed the short time I was there.”

Though the midfielder has not returned to Guyana which had to play home matches outside the country because of substandard playing facilities, she relished the opportunity to play for them.

“It has been a challenge sometimes because of lack of preparation,” said Banfield. “Because many of the players are outside the country, it is difficult getting everyone together for a proper camp going into tournaments. It is hard having chemistry if you are together for a brief period. However, I have formed relationships with girls from Guyana, the United States and England and that is priceless.”

At age 34, goalkeeper Chante Sandiford is the team’s oldest member.

The daughter of former Guyana goalie Wendell Sandiford is a role model and mentor for the young players.

“She is a leader with a strong personality, and the players look up to her for guidance,” Banfield, who also played in Woodbridge and Vaughan, said. “The first time I met her was in Puerto Rico where we played a few friendlies in 2021. On the field, she plays with heart.”

In her first appearance at the Under-20 level four years ago, Canadian Ivan Joseph was her coach.

After four years volunteering at the helm of the women’s soccer program, the Wilfrid Laurier University Vice-President and the local soccer federation parted ways two years ago.

“Ivan was very serious,” the St. Mary Catholic Secondary School graduate said. “But I liked him because I thought he tried his best to get the girls to bond. He did a lot of team bonding activities on and off the pitch. He was an asset to the program as he wanted to ensure that we were prepared and ready for action on the field.”

Raised in a soccer family meant it was easy for Banfield to gravitate to the sport.

Her older sister played until pursuing studies and their father coached.

“Just standing on the sidelines watching games and kicking around the ball with dad during practice sessions were very appealing,” said Banfield who also enjoys cycling and skiing. “I also love the fact that it is a team sport.”

When she started playing competitively around age seven, her dad was her full-time coach.

“It was obvious at a young age that she had a feel for the game,” said Toronto Metropolitan University graduate Graeme Banfield who played in recreational leagues in the Greater Toronto Area in the late 1980s and early 1990s. “She walked around the house with a ball and was always in the backyard kicking.”

He said playing for Guyana was a teachable moment for his daughter.

“Many of the girls went there not knowing what to expect,” he said. “Training sessions were rescheduled a few times because, as they later learnt, the coach who was supposed to conduct them resided out of the city and did not have transportation to get to Georgetown on time. 

“While in Florida for a game, the Guyanese-based players missed practices because they got their US visas late. Some came and others arrived after the first match. The gear that was sent for the players for a tournament didn’t fit and Paul Beresford (the Guyana Women’s Soccer International Team Co-ordinator) had to fly to Atlanta to get the proper outfits for the players. It took my daughter and the rest of the overseas players some time to realize how privileged they are and things are much different if you live in a Third World country as opposed to a Developed one. That stuck with Samantha and she didn’t complain or get upset with anything.”

In 2015, Graeme Banfield encouraged his daughter to attend a local camp during March break.

At the completion, two players would be selected to spend a week at Barcelona FC in Spain.

“Dad has always been there, pushing for me to step outside my comfort zone,” she said. “I didn’t think I would be one of the players chosen, but I did and was so happy.”

Samantha Banfield & her dad Graham Banfield (Photo by Ron Fanfair)

He accompanied his daughter on the trip.

They attended a Barcelona FC/ Celta de Vigo contest at Camp Nou in February 2016 that featured Argentinians Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez and the Brazilian Neymar who were the Barcelona strikers.

In that game, Messi refused the opportunity to net his 300th La Liga goal by passing the ball from the penalty spot to Suarez who raced into the box and fired the shot past the goalie.

Many believed Messi was paying tribute to revered Barcelona striker Johan Cruyff who executed a similar play in 1982. The Dutchman died a month after the game.

“That was such a unique play and we were there to witness it,” said Banfield. “Messi is my favourite player and I was so thrilled to see him playing on the field. The Barcelona trip was amazing as was training at their academy. I was among just five girls in a group of almost 300.”

The third-year student in York University’s Bachelor of Business Administration program is a member of the York Lions soccer team.

“When you play for a college or university team, it is the people associated with those programs who are behind you,” Banfield said. “When you play for a country, it is much different as a whole nation is behind that country. That is my impetus to want to play for Guyana and give everything I have.”