GFF Ten-Team Super League Officially Launched

Sep 01, 2009 Sports

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Support of Government is critical – Harold Taylor

The historic Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Super League, a pilot league funded by FIFA under the Win in CONCACAF with CONCACAF project, was officially unveiled on Sunday evening at the Pegasus Hotel.
The activity, which was attended by prominent members of the Business Community including Chairman of the Private Sector Commission Captain Gerry Gouveia and a wide cross section of football administrators at the club, association and executive level of the Federation, saw FIFA Development Officer with responsibility for the Caribbean Harold Taylor delivering the feature address.
Taylor highlighted the fact that the FIFA grant for this project, which amounts to US $150,000, will last for just two years and thereafter, the GFF will have to be self sufficient.
While calling on sponsors to come on board and support the initiative, Taylor noted that one of the best sponsors to have on board is the government.
“The Government must help. They must realize that what is happening would help the young people to get away from crime and the many ills of society. They must understand the importance of being involved – so we need government.”
The former Caribbean Football Union Secretary accentuated the fact that getting into a National League would not be easy and many challenges would be encountered but systems must be put in place to deal with them. “To have professional football you have to have professional management so the clubs would have to step up and their respective personnel be trained accordingly. It is therefore now necessary that the GFF sits down with those clubs to try and bring them up to the required standard.”
What is really needed to make the Super League work Taylor said is a lot of cooperation. “Everybody has to work together because the young people of Guyana will never forgive you if you don’t decide to work together, if you don’t decide to help each other. Yes you are going to have pitfalls and problems but I’m certain whatever problems you have you can sit down and work it out. Cooperation is absolutely necessary if you are going to succeed.”
Women development he opined is also a critical component for the holistic progression of the sport, Taylor reminded. Proper facilities are also critically needed for the further advancement of the sport especially if women and families are going to be attracted to the game.
“I sincerely trust that the Win in CACONCAC with CONCACAF would rebound to the building of the game in Guyana and that pretty soon Guyana rise to the level of beating Trinidad and Tobago.”
President of the GFF Colin Klass gave an overview of the Win in CONCACAF with CONCACAF project while making a clarion call for the business community to come on board to sustain and maintain the League even after the FIFA support would have evaporated.
The aim of the Federation is to see a professional league developing out of this pilot project.
The ten teams participating were also announced. They are Liquid Gold of Bartica, Rosignol United of Berbice, Seawall United of West Demerara, Victoria Kings and Buxton United of East Demerara, Bakewell Topp XX and Milerock of Linden and
Alpha United, Guyana Defence Force and Camptown of Georgetown.
The opening game is fixed for Sunday at the Providence Stadium where Liquid Gold and Rosignol United go head to head.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Gerry Gouveia was excited by the future of the tournament and football in general. He acknowledged Klass’ request and promised to initiate discussions with his colleagues on the crucial issue of corporate help. “We must regard sports not merely as activity to keep fit but we must view it as a window to enhance the efforts of the tourism board,” Gouveia said.
He noted that many of the developed countries viewed sports tourism as a critical aspect of their development and therefore Guyana should realize the benefits that can be derived from such activities.
Speaking with Kaieteur Sports moments after his address, Gouveia said that he plans to convene a meeting with Klass very soon. He said that while he is anxious to get on board in a big way, he is concerned about the accountability aspect of the sport. “Don’t get me wrong,” he implored, “I am not accusing the executives of the GFF of skullduggery. All I am basically saying is that I would not be able to influence my colleagues to contribute their hard earned dollars unless I can assure them that all processes are above board.”
Shortly after Gouveia left the microphone Harold Taylor in his address joked, “If I were Colin (Klass) I would not want to wait very long. As a matter of fact I would have been making the necessary arrangements to convene that meeting as soon as possible.”

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