GFF will honour commitments – Wilson

Dec 20, 2012 Sports

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By Zaheer Mohamed
Acting President of the Guyana Football Federation Franklyn Wilson at a press conference held yesterday at the Federation head quarters at Section K Campbellville, stated the GFF will honour the commitments they had previously agreed to in relation to payments of players.

He said the only payments owed to the players are the 12% of income after expenses and Honorarium (US$500 that was agreed to for each player for the game that was moved to Texas) which amounted to US$8,500 (US$500X17 players) but three players namely Chris Nurse, Gregory Richardson and Konata Manning have already received their bonus.
The bonus for the game in St. Lucia, which is one win plus 4 goals amounted to US$575 and the Grenada match bonus which is two wins plus five goals equivalent to US$1,000. Wilson informed that the full match fees and Per Diem of US$30 in accordance with agreement for the game in Texas have already been paid as well as the Per Diem of US$20 for the bonus in the St. Lucia and Grenada games.  He added that due to some financial difficulties encountered by the Federation, they were unable to pay the fees on time but same will be paid.
He said the GFF does not want the players to suffer a loss of earnings. “A number of players had to be away and were asked to submit information in relation to their absence and will be paid based on that, and the GFF will continue to do their best to prepare teams for future competitions.”   In relation to moving the game to Texas he said it was a late decision.
In response to a few players decision of not representing the country under the current administration, Wilson stated they can’t force players to play for the country. “We will continue to do our best for the players but cannot afford to pay the amount of money that some of them demanded. The GFF give players an opportunity to showcase their talent so that the can obtain contracts with clubs and earn a decent pay,” he added.
He further stated the code of conduct was circulated to the players but they did not sign it. “We appreciated the level of patience shown by the players but there is a procedure that should be followed in terms of sharing your grievances and the players went overboard in this regard, this is one of the reasons they did not sign the code of conduct which gives them a lee way to do what they did.”
He added that plans for improving the game are in place. “There is always room for improvement and the Federation would welcome constructive views from anyone in this regard, we are also in talks with the new CONCACAF president Jeffery Webb for developmental programmes.”
Wilson said the GFF have already written to former Technical Director Jamal Shabaaz and thanked him for his service and wished him well in his future endeavors. He informed the Federation will go local in terms of technical progress for now.
Wilson, who is on the FIFA development committee, told the media the GFF had a good year and expects a challenging 2013. “A number of female tournaments are slated for 2013 which will lead the 2016 female World Cup, the Lady Jags did us proud recently,” he stated. Wilson informed the GFF will continue developmental plans with support from their major sponsors which are Ansa Mc Al, GT & T, Bakewell and DDL.
He added that there has been a lot of talk of no development in football but recent reality suggested otherwise. In 2010, by virtue of their performances in regional tournaments, the Lady Jags were selected for national recognition as the outstanding Sports Team of the year, in the same year the Golden Jaguars achieved their highest rating-86-in the FIFA rankings.
He added in 2011, the Golden Jaguars were accorded national recognition as the outstanding Sports Team of the year for its performances in preliminary rounds of the FIFA Brazil 2014 World Cup Qualifiers, and its first ever passage into the third round of the World Cup. In preparation for participation in the third round of the World Cup in 2012, the Jaguars had the unprecedented opportunity for a number of friendly and closed door games against Guatemala, Grenada, ST. Vincent, Trinidad, Jamaica, Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Panama and clubs in Colombia to name a few. They also attended high altitude training camp in Colombia prior to the initial engagement with Mexico.
The national Programme in 2012 accommodated for an enlarged cadre of players and at one stage Guyana had two National representative teams playing in Martinique and Suriname simultaneously.
In 2011 representative Guyana Women Football teams participated in preliminary round competition for the U-17 and U-20 World Cup tournaments. The U-17 team largely comprised local players and won the first round of the qualifiers before they were eliminated in the second stage.
He also informed since 2009, the GFF has introduced an annual Inter Association Women’s tournament as well as an annual National Super League Tournament in which ten clubs from different Associations vie for the honour of being crowned Club Champions of Guyana. Both tournaments are being sponsored by the GFF. Inter Association Tournaments are also played on an annual basis at the U-15,17 and 19 levels, all currently sponsored by GFF.
The Federation also provides trophies and medals for youth tournaments run by Associations. In 2011 and 2012 School competitions have resurfaced, organized and sponsored by Digicel, Scotia Bank and Pepsi, but utilising the infrastructure put in place by the GFF. Courses are also conducted annually by the Federation for coaches and Referees, in Georgetown and outlying areas including Linden and Mabaruma.
In 2012, simultaneously with the Golden Jaguars campaign in the third round in the World Cup Qualifiers, the Guyana U-17 and U-20 Men’s representative teams participated in regional qualification tournaments in Trinidad, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
In relation to the Goal Project he informed the GFF had to sever ties with the contractor and FIFA will retender for same. He said they are working feverishly to get this done.
Meanwhile, Wilson also stated that the Federation has had other expenses some of which are, accommodation in Guyana amounted to $25,508,186, printing of tickets $20,023,000, bonus, stipend and match fees for players and staff $23,446,480, meals $11,747,309, advertisements $8,908,513, air fare US$42,455,860, security $4.7 million dollars, medicals $551,821 and still counting, equipment for players $4,639,000, ground $4,124,553 and $1.4 million dollars for gate management.
Additionally, the expenses for the team’s World Cup campaign in 2012 has so far amounted to $191,825,409 and is still going up. He informed that the GFF received US$75,500 after the game was played in Mexico and had an expense of US$279,000.
Below is the Remuneration Structure – Golden Jaguars.

Per Diem

CATEGORY                                                           PLAYERS

Local camps and friendlies on non FIFA dates-        US$20

FIFA dates, Friendlies and camps                              US$25

World Cup Qualifying camps and games                  US$30

MATCH FEE

CATEGORY                                      MATCH FEE

Friendlies on non FIFA dates              nil

Friendlies on FIFA dates                     1. US$150-Starters

2. US$100-Substitues used

3.US$75-Substitues used

World Cup Qualifying games              1.US$ 350- Starters and Substitutes used

2.US$200- Substitutes not used

INCENTIVE

CATEGORY                                                           TEAM INCENTIVE

Friendlies non FIFA dates –     G$75,000 for wins, draws plus $US 50 per goal scored.

Friendlies FIFA dates –            US$6,000 for wins, draws plus US$50 per goal scored.

World Cup Qualifying games – US$15,000 for wins, draws at home and US$30,000 for win,

Draws away plus US$50 per goal scored.

Group advancing incentive- team grant of US$150,000.

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