BFA pulls plug on Karibee Rice Football tournament, warns teams not to participate

Aug 20, 2012 Sports

The Berbice Football Association (BFA) and the organisers of the Karibee Rice Football competition are at loggerheads over the staging of the tournament thus placing the play-off of the second edition of the competition in limbo.
The BFA has refused to sanction the competition which is sponsored by Nand Persaud and Company Limited. The BFA has since written to football teams in the Berbice area instructing teams not to participate in the tournament and failing to adhere to that instruction they will be penalized.
The letter dated 14th August stated that “…to date the BFA has not been officially contacted by the sponsors or organisers concerning the hosting of the Karibee Rice Football tournament. As such the tournament has not been approved by the BFA and as a consequence has not been sanctioned by the Association. Therefore no club has been given permission to participate.” It ended with the words “All for you strict adherence and guidance.”
However the organisers and some of the clubs in Berbice are taking umbrage with the latest action by the BFA. On Friday Kaieteur sports caught up with members of some of the clubs and the organising committee including officials from Corentyne All Stars, Pistons and Hearts of Oak football clubs.
The officials stated that they are tired with the BFA theatrics, laid back and high handed attitude, which is only killing the game of football in the ancient county and dispiriting prospective sponsors. The organisers stated that the BFA adopted the same attitude last year when the tournament was played for the first time. They stated that they had a royal run around from the BFA, although they had adhered to all the stipulations, including lodging all the money.
They noted that the tournament which should have lasted not more than three weeks went on for more than seven months for no apparent reason. It began in April and ended until November.
They stated that Berbice clubs have lost confidence in the BFA for a long time since they hardly do anything concerning football in Berbice. They are also accusing the president of only being concerned about himself and his club. No other tournament has been completed since the completion of the last Karibee Rice competition.
Contacted for a comment at the BFA office in New Amsterdam, Secretary Joseph Simon refuted the allegations made. Although at first reluctant to speak, he stated that at no time did the BFA humbug or destabilised any tournament.
Simon said that last year’s the “Karibee Rice” competition was coordinated by Brian Simpson of the Pistons Football Club and every time the BFA tried to make contact with him he was never around. “The BFA wanted to make sure that everything was in order that was the reason for the delay,” he stated.
Touching on the allegation of lack of tournaments especially on the senior level, he said that, “We are organising tournaments. The Cheddi Jagan tournament has been launched sometime ago and will be played shortly. The weather and some other unforeseen circumstances were the major bug bear.” “In fact the BFA is encouraging clubs to organise tournaments especially at the senior level, as the FA is concentrating on organizing junior and female competitions.”
He stated that it is no secret what the procedures are concerning the staging of any football competition. Outlining the procedures he said that the organisers must notify the BFA and summit proposed dates for approval. The organisers must also lodge the prize monies and a tournament contract must be worked out. That is done to safeguard the clubs and the players. Simon said that the organisers did not contact the BFA and they only knew of the competition via an article in the Kaieteur News.
Simon mentioned that the FA has since written the Nand Persaud and Company Limited informing them of the situation and inviting them to discuss the issue and work on a way forward.
The Karibee Rice tournament should have begun yesterday with one game at the Burnham Park in New Amsterdam.
The tournament which is being organized by Corentyne All Stars is being sponsored by the Popular Business establishment to the tune of over $300,000, while 10 teams were listed to participate in the tournament which was being called the “Karibee Rice Football Cup 2012.”
The Burnham Park, the Scot Church grounds, the Scottsburg ground and the Monedderlust ground were identified as the venues. The final was scheduled for the 23rd September.
(Samuel Whyte)

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