Are the Essential Pillars of Football being overlooked?

Mar 07, 2013 Sports

Dear Sir,
Reference is hereby made to the above caption as it relates to the recently concluded 6th edition of the Fruta Conquerors/Namilco sponsored Knockout Competition that was won by Alpha United, with a come from behind 3-1 win over Santos, in the finals. This was preceded by host Fruta Conquerors capturing the third place playoff, edging out GDF 2-1, in the opening encounter of a double header at the Tucville ground, on 24.02.13.
While mention must also be made of the launching of the Slingerz Football Club, which from all indications is an automatic affiliate of the West Demerara Football Association, wherein the three major components of the sport are administration, coaching and officiating (refereeing)! However, its administration that remains the most important, since it determines the level of any sport.
As a consequence it was extremely disheartening to have read of eventual winners Alpha United’s, decision to withdraw prior to the commencement of the tournament then to have a change of heart, and play! But what of the recently crowned K&S Champions, Buxton United, who opted out after securing a loss upon the resumption of the GFF’S Super League? And last but definitely not least the withdrawal of Beacon, whose President is a Vice President of the GFA?
Editor, of significance it must be noted that both Alpha and Beacon are affiliates of the GFA, and are inclined to answer to its parent body for its withdrawal if requested but definitely not at Conquerors insistence, as a public release in the news media had outlined, since the GFF, would have the over-riding authority to impose any sanction (s) if the situation so desires due to the fact that participating teams came from more than one association.
This now brings me to the pertinent point – coaches must coach; administrators must administrate and referees must referee.
While Alpha’s position to withdraw was known to me prior to the tournament’s commencement, in relation to the compilation of the fixtures, such a position however should have been documented to the club, GFA and the GFF. Moreover, the club’s debriefing that would have been the ideal forum to ventilate the views. But this shouldn’t have escaped both the GFA and the GFF, due to the fact that seedings in any knockout tournament ought to be above board, and definitely not as lopsided as Namilco’s.
Who, did the fixtures, was it the club’s coach? If, so, then he shouldn’t have, since he’s not an administrator! And to make matters worse the marketing towards enhancing gate receipts was also poor.
Wherein one half of the draw featured the best of the teams namely: Alpha United, Pele, GDF, Western and Camptown. The other half consisted of hosts Fruta Conquerors, Santos, GFC, N.A.UTD and Police. On a pertinent point, if such a situation had occurred in the Kashif & Shanghai K.O, or the Mayor’s Cup, what would have been the public’s perception?
In the group stage of the World Cup Finals, FIFA would never have Brazil, Germany, Netherlands and Argentina in one group, and another consisting of Jamaica, Japan, Algeria and South Korea! Further, does one have to go all this length, in pursuit of winning a tournament? Or towards enhancing the hosts’ image that had entailed a feature match in the semifinals against Santos, while the national club champions Alpha United playing GDF in the curtain raiser.
Finally, since “there is always more in the mortar, than in the pestle”, then maybe the GFF executive should explain publicly via a press release if there was/is any comprise in granting Slingerz FC full-fledged affiliation to the West Demerara FA since to the best of my knowledge, in accordance to constitutionality by Georgetown’s standards that should be the benchmark in all associations. “Affiliation is only granted at the Annual General Meeting or the Half-Yearly”, Did this occur, or was a Special General Council Meeting convened to deal specifically with the affiliation?
Further does the club have a constitution? Was an AGM convened with the relevant Elections of Office Bearers? If not, then the administration of football as an essential pillar in the sport is being overlooked! But this should come as no surprise, since the President of the WDFA, is a former coach of a city side, who in my estimation is a rookie administratively.
Lester Sealey.

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Are the Essential Pillars of Football being overlooked?

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