Disturbing trends in football continue

Sep 05, 2009 Sports

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New Amsterdam United deserve to be in any national league

Dear Editor,
The recent announcement of a national football league by the Guyana Football Federation is a good thing. However the million dollar question is, what happens after?
Like all national competitions, be it invitational or otherwise the machinations behind the scene in arriving at the teams to participate in the tournaments are always a sore point and this occasion is no different.
The competition has not gotten on the way as yet, but there is some amount of controversy as to the selection of teams to participate in this league.
The New Amsterdam United (NAU) football club of Berbice is concerned about the manner in which the team to represent the ancient county was arrived at.
Any national football league should have the best teams in the country participating. The overlooking of the New Amsterdam United is a cause for serious concern. Our achievements over the past two years in this part of the country should put us on even keel with any other club in the country. Yet when the idea of a national league came forth our club has been unceremoniously dumped.
As for achievements, New Amsterdam United are the defending first division champions of Berbice and are currently leading in the points standing for this year, having played unbeaten so far. We also won the Cheddi Jagan first division competition in Berbice and have performed creditable in all competitions. We have over 80 members on roll. Our average age is 23 with an age range of 8-28 yrs.
My recent discussion with the General Secretary of the Guyana Football Federation did not bear much fruit. Telling me to have a discussion with the President of the Berbice Football Association (BFA) seems to be an impossible task.
BFA president Mr. Keith O’Jeer is at the heart of the matter. His club Rosignol United has been a key beneficiary in many regards recently. Of course, after trying for three days, efforts to make contact with the BFA president proved unsuccessful.
One should be rewarded for outstanding achievements. Rosignol United have not won any competition in Berbice, how come they suddenly emerge as the club to represent Berbice in a national league. Arriving at a farcical idea of a play off between Cougars and Rosignol United is a sham. How did any one come up with such an idea, when NAU are the undisputed champions of Football in the Ancient County? The records are there for all to see.
Is it an invitational tournament? So that the GFF could invite who ever they want. If so, then why was there a play off? Even if there was to be a play off, how come Rosignol United got into the equation and NAU was left out? Another question is which association has playoffs to select the team to be its representative every time there is a national competition, even when there is a national league champion, none except the BFA.
The playoffs are designed to benefit certain people. The best teams should be selected every time.
If Alpha United, the GDF and some other clubs are automatic choices in any national competition in Guyana. What is the difference with New Amsterdam United? We are the champions and deserve to be included. In which part of the world are champions second class.
In all my years in education and administration I know that you reward persons when they perform. But for football in Guyana the situation seems to be different. It’s all about manipulation by someone sitting behind a desk for their personal benefits.
Performance is there, accountability is there, and our credibility is intact. NAU is one of the few clubs in this country that can find a team at all age groups to play football. It is no easy task to motivate youngsters, despite all the social ills, peer pressure, financial constraints and other competing forces to balance their education and play football on a daily basis and when the time comes for them to be rewarded they are duped from going for that glory.
We are calling on the GFF to right this situation and give NAU its dues, it is not too late. Our youngsters need to be rewarded for their hard work and consistency, they need the recognition. We should be helping our youths and not allow ourselves to be hoodwinked and manipulated time after time. After performing outstandingly persons need the kind of fillip to keep them going for more success. How can you explain to the youngsters’ tournament after tournament that they have been overlooked for some other second-rated performer?
The motto of FIFA is fair play. Let us see far play being exhibited on and off the field. We are the champion and should be treated so. The GFF should find some way in putting NAU in this tournament. It is our right, nothing else will be satisfactory.
How can the GFF call on the government and co-operate Guyana to assist, when things are not right within its own ranks. Where are the fairness, accountability and credibility? Those entities are right to ask questions. We all will be watching.
Samuel Whyte
President
NA United Football Club

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