Letter to the Sports Editor…Footballers must always be treated with due respect

Dec 20, 2011 Sports

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Dear Sir,
“The foolishness of fools is always in their folly, as such woe be unto the toothless poodles that masquerades as General Council members of the Guyana Football Federation.” that previously had avoided adding their collective voices in denouncing cronyism and unprofessionalism, which in the past was foisted upon footballers by none other than the “demi-god”, who was stripped naked of his vested powers by FIFA, for a period of 26 months.
As such, it comes as no surprise that Bro: Charles ‘Lily’ Pollard in his mitigated plea, which was superbly documented in a publication of your newspaper called for peace between the governing bodies GFF and GFA.
“I am now pleading and begging the relevant authorities to do everything in their power to put aside their egos and bring an end to this long overdue battle for the benefit of the country first and foremost, the young and upcoming players and for the further development of the sport. We as footballers are not just footballers we are role models as well as entertainers and without these games being played, we are hindered from accomplishing the objectives, which is to draw more players to the world’s largest sport.
For instance, next Saturday will be the opening of the biggest and most entertaining football tournament in Guyana, the 22nd Kashif and Shanghai Festival, hosted by the Kashif and Shanghai organization and some of the country’s top local players have been excluded from competing in this tournament because of the ongoing battle between the GFF and the GFA. To this end, I would like to categorically state that it is unfair for the players and fans to suffer like this because of these unexplainable differences between these two bodies, to which I say, let the best players play the game we all love.”
Editor, it is my firm and humble opinion that Pollard’s document should be circulated to all clubs via the associations for a comprehensive study, then submit a “menu of measures” for perusal and subsequent implementation to the GFF. Since the GFF General Council, would have voted unanimously to debar clubs, participating in the ongoing GFA Presidents’ Beer League Competition.
But in the same breath, the decision makers resorts to “shooting themselves in the foot”,  when they collectively approve the participation of players from the said debarred clubs to represent various clubs in different associations as loan players, in this year’s Kashif and Shanghai Tournament.  Something black (mind set) I simply cannot understand. In words of Jesus the Christ, “they are from us but definitely not of us”.
How much lower can one stoop? To this end, I must express my total surprise that the executive of the GFF, would uphold a violation of a profound statute as it relates to legitimate players playing alongside or with illegitimate players! Contrary to the Laws of the game of Football or the rules, regulations and by- laws “Played with or against any suspended association, club or player”, which in actuality is Misconduct?
This simply cannot withstand scrutiny in any Court of Law; Tribunal or Commission of Inquiry. Since all are involved and all are consumed, they should be debarred from representation and decision making. Why pick upon players, who all remain the most important factor in the structure of football? Why didn’t the General Council single out Messrs: Klass, Powell and Adonis (ah do not know this) for sanctions/debarring from football, following their attendance and representation at a CFU Congress in Trinidad, on May 11, which led to shameful “cash for votes scandal”. Can any General Council Member be a role model worthy of emulation, albeit Pollard?
Meanwhile, the GFA executive should descend from its “high horse” and seriously contemplate if they still need to be a part of the GFF, who I insist must accept that their lack of foresight is responsible for the ongoing standoff between both factions. Instinctively, I can recall a previous telephone conversation I had with Mr. Adonis and had told him in no uncertain manner. “Sir, the GFA’s concept of La Liga is counterproductive to football development, wherein the previous structure had entailed 8 Premier League clubs and 10 in the First Division. Riddim Squad and Santos  gaining automatic promotion to the Premiership, after emerging as the winner and runner-up respectively, in the 2009 First Division League, replacing GFC and Uprising both of whom had finished at the bottom of the table in the Premiership.
The GFF with its vested powers as the national body for the sport’s development should have simply reviewed the plan of the GFA and nullify it. Simply because the pyramid was, being turned up sided down. With Mr. Adonis promising to look at it, which he never did the rest is now history.
Which part of the football world other than in the GFA, the summit is larger than the base? Therefore, come next year in the 2012 season, there would be more Premier League teams than in the first division! Within this context, I am surprised that Alpha, GDF and Camptown all of whom enjoyed two consecutive years in the GFF National League would relinquish its status and participate in a domestic competition involving all the teams, in pursuit of selecting the best 10 for Premier League status.
Finally, Charles ‘Lily’ Pollard you will go down in history not only for your boldness but also for being fearless and standing up for what is right. Despite being betrayed by the GFF General Council a few years ago, when dropped by a Technical Director, whose salary and emoluments  for that year accounted for 80% of monies budgeted for development, which the then GFL asked for evidence of .
Nevertheless the next year you were voted the MVP in the T&T Pro League. Additionally, you were also instrumental in confronting former GFF President, Colin Klass in the wee hours of the morning in a hotel lobby, as he was unceremoniously departing without addressing the national players concern. “Elder statesman, central defence maestro and a national player of immense quality”, I salute you on your bold initiative of calling a spade by its rightful name.
Enough is enough and the confounded nonsense must stop between the GFF and the GFA. Today it’s the K&S Tournament which is being affected by not having the best players on show from Georgetown! Tomorrow it can be Guyana? Would the “toothless poodles live with it? Adding insult now to injury the GFA has decided to organize a Knock out Competition for its affiliates, removing any notion of its players participating in this year’s Kashif and Shanghai KO Competition. Is it a conspiracy to undermine the immense success that the K&S Organization has enjoyed for over two decades?
Lester Sealey.

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