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Warner and Taylor for GFF National League launch on Sunday
Forms part of Win in CONCACAF with CONCACAF Project
GFF President Colin Klass (Centre) briefing the media yesterday at the Federation headquarters. At right is General Secretary Noel Adonis and left, Vice President Franklin Wilson.
FIFA Vice President Austin ‘Jack’ Warner along with FIFA Development Officer for the Caribbean Harold Taylor will be special guest of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) on Sunday when the local body launches their National League which is a project sponsored by the FIFA Win in CONCACAF with CONCACAF project.
Briefing the media yesterday at the Federation’s Head Office, Dadanawa Street, Section ‘K’ Campbellville, GFF President Colin Klass said the launching of the league is set for Sunday evening beginning at 19:00hrs at the Le Meridien Pegasus Hotel.
Klass noted that the League which is developmental in nature in the initial stages is expected to eventually develop into a full fledge national league. The strengthening of club administration and youth development has also been targeted as a means of preparing clubs.
He also stated that their training programmes for referees administrators, coaches and match commissioners have all been on target with the Federation leaving no stones unturned in preparing for a successful league.
Initially, the body {Federation} was looking at a twelve (12) team league but according to Klass, their initial budget which was submitted to Keith Look Loy who is administering the project (Win in CONCACAF with CONCACAF) on behalf of FIFA was reduced and this resulted in the number of teams being reduced by two (2).
The names of the ten teams will be unveiled at Sunday’s launch and they will come from Bartica who qualified following a 3-team playoff involving East Bank and Essequibo. Berbice, East Demerara, Linden, West Demerara and Georgetown are the other Associations where teams have been drawn from.
The league proper will kick off on September 6, at the National Stadium Providence. Barbados were invited to play on the opening day against the Golden Jaguars but subsequently informed the GFF that they were unable to take up the invitation. Klass disclosed that efforts are being made to invite another country but he did not give a name.
Support form the local business community Klass said has been encouraging to date and is looking forward for them stepping up that support since FIFA’s support through this project will not go on for more than two year’s.
“To sustain this national league the local businesses will have to support us in a major way. We are working to ensure that this national league develops into a professional league; this is our focus and intention.”
President Warner, while on his brief visit here is expected to pay a courtesy call on President Bharrat Jagdeo and will also meet with the GFF executive.
On Saturday morning, a training programme for Match Commissioners will be held at the GFF while in the afternoon, a third training programme for referees will also be held at the same venue.
Commenting on the training programmes Klass noted, “We want to ensure that the level and standard that is required for a professional league is attained and achieved and that all the persons involved are equipped to deliver at a high level.”
The name of the tournament administrator and prizes for the league will also be announced on Sunday evening. A total of US $150,000, over a two year period is being pumped into the Guyana leg of the project.
Klass however noted that there is a possibility of this amount being increased based on the deliverables. “The performance of the league, what and how we did and managed this whole process but as at now, the confirmed written, documented position is US $150,000 for 2009/2010 in total.” CONCACAF received $10 million from FIFA for development initiatives in Central America and the Caribbean, with the aim to strengthen and enhance the infrastructure of 11 fledgling leagues in the region.
The money is being used to help several leagues and bolster areas from youth and referee programmes to coaching education. Leagues will be required to establish long-term marketing and sponsorship programmes, including television and new media rights distribution.
Similarly, participating clubs will be mandated to establish a constitution, submit annual reports and sustainable youth programmes. “This is a dream come true for 11 of our member countries,” CONCACAF President Jack Warner said. “It will surely help to lift the bar of football in these countries. My sincere hope is that the governments and business organisations join with us in this FIFA initiative that will take the sport to even greater heights”.
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