Letter to the Sports Editor…Astonished at Marlan Cole’s rantings

Apr 12, 2013 Sports

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Dear Editor,
As a football devotee, I wish to start off by saying that it takes a lot to surprise me! However it was with great astonishment that I greeted the article in the Stabroek News, titled “Cole says Major was part of Klass’s unethical regime” which was based on an interview with Marlon Cole.
I found his comments and the article as a whole for that matter, very strange, since while holding the position of Secretary for the GFA, Cole’s name for a long time was synonymous with that very word “unethical”; Cole’s tenure as secretary was marred by controversy with failure to produce any financial statements or to otherwise account for monies spent that led to numerous accusations of fraud and subsequently led to a no confidence motion for him and his regime.
This all culminated in his removal. Needless to say, he is not exactly the most credible of sources, especially on matters of purported financial irregularity. However in the interest of clarification, as a football supporter and someone supportive of Mr. Major’s candidacy, I find it necessary to lend my voice to the representations.
I remember reading that Cole while Secretary for the GFA, had asked Klass quite a number of times for extension after extension to facilitate the “righting” of his accounts while he was a part of the GFA. To this day, it is still unclear as to where the funds went or whether he was ever able to account for over Six (6,000,000) million dollars that ought to have been accounted for.
That unfortunately is the only memory of his regime that anyone in the football fraternity is left with. Moreover, Cole also served as the President of the Conquerors Football Club and lost his position there as well, purportedly for misappropriation of funds. The pattern is clear. Mr. Cole is now Co-Director of PETRA, we can only hope that the pattern doesn’t continue with his newest endeavor.
Mr. Cole in my opinion was clearly launching a personal attack at Mr. Major, since he cannot speak to his record, which is solid and commendable and for all to see. His public support of Christopher Matthias comes as no surprise as they both have a lot in common based on records and only solidified my argument that this article was nothing short of an ill-advised smear campaign for obvious reasons and should only be seen as an attempt to further his own ambitions.
Mr. Cole brought up a number of extraneous and already settled issues that have little or no bearing on Mr. Major’s tenure as Organizing Secretary of the GFF. Cole went as far as questioning the GOAL Project and whether it is being done. Naturally, the fact that building and construction happens in stages has eluded Mr. Cole.
The entire matter with the switching of the match from Guyana to the USA is public record and statements explaining and clarifying the entire operation were released. That is now a finished issue that Mr. Major had little control over.
Why in Cole’s opinion this is somehow his doing, or why he should be asked to speak on the matter? Mr. Major is not the head of the Federation and is not authorize to make public pronouncement of sensitive matters.
In Mr. Cole’s personal tirade he went as far as questioning the functionality and legitimacy of the Electoral Committee endorsed by FIFA to elect the new President, and in the process criticized all the other associations for basically, not doing the nomination the way he wanted it to be done; coincidentally, the way he wanted it done was the same way the candidate he is supporting did it. Naturally, he doesn’t question the legitimacy of the Electoral Committee where his candidate is concerned or his candidate’s nomination.
The most distasteful part of the article to my mind has got to be Mr. Cole’s blatant disrespect of the National Players. He proffered quite foolishly and without justification that he “empathized and sympathized” with any player who supported Mr. Major because of their “lack of judgment” and opined that the only reason they supported Mr. Major is because he “may have afforded them phone calls”!
While I found this as utter balderdash and borderline unintelligent, and should be seen as an affront to rational thinking, it begs the question, who died and made Mr. Cole the last pronouncer on things right and wrong?
Furthermore, how dare he insinuate that the players only supported Major because of a few phone calls! His callous thinking didn’t stop there, his contempt for the National players continued when he basically asked them to prove to him that they have some “viable living sustenance”.
What nonsense! The fact that the players have survived and continue to live without asking Mr. Cole for a morsel is testimony to the fact that they have “viable living sustenance” and if we are to agree with his gauge of success “erecting a property”, those who do not have a property, must be well below the poverty line! I’ll have Mr. Cole know that Mr. Major was one of the instrumental people in ensuring that National Players are paid and stopped playing for free.
If anything by his own admission, he has said that he is surprised by the support for Mr. Major, that is because people recognize his contributions to the sport and more notably they recognize that he is best suited for the position.
Since Mr. Cole is supporting Mr. Matthias, I have to wonder if that old saying is true though… do birds of a feather truly flock together? I do remember that Mr. Christopher Matthias was also removed from his post as President of the GFA also for issues of financial irregularity.
In addition, he recently received the endorsement of Mr. Terrence Archer, former Guyana National Football Captain and Former Manager of Republic Bank; he too was removed from the Bank under allegations of multi-million dollar fraud and other financial irregularities. So the flock is surely taking shape!
I wish to say finally that it is your democratic right to have your own view and support of who you wish, Mr. Cole should argue on the record, not on personal, unfounded attacks that any reasonable person could see are clearly malicious. To Mr. Major I say to you, you should answer Mr. Cole’s questions, when he accounts for the money he couldn’t have, when he was Secretary of the GFA.
Sherwin Grant
Former player and now a supporter of the game

 

 

Ally supports Major

Dear Editor,
Please allow me some space in your sports page to show my allegiance and support for what I think is best for Guyana Football as a donor.
As the owner and Chairman of Air Services Limited, Guyana, I am pleased to endorse Mr. Aubrey “Shanghai” Major and his professional team of businessmen to charter a new course for Guyana football.
Of the four (4) candidates contesting the Presidency of the Guyana Football Federation, without a doubt Mr. Major is the most prepared and the most experienced to take up the mantle and fill the void that currently exists in the Federation.
It is time that we bridge the gap between the Administration of football and the players and I am confident that no one will do this better than Mr. Major and his team.
He has put together a lineup with resumes that are impressive, and speaks to the weight of proficiency and management expertise that Aubrey and his team have to offer in turning around the sport into a marketable and business entity that would propel the sport into a new direction for all players, coaches, trainers, medical team, administrators as well as the country at large will benefit tremendously, since this new vision would definitively attract sports tourism.
As a supporter and sponsor of the Guyana National Football Team, I am pleased that someone I know and respect has positioned himself to have a significant impact on football in Guyana.
Mr. Major, whom I met through seeking support for the welfare of the players and management staff, always find a way to persuade me in critical financial times of business to support.
It is based on those qualities among others that from there on I adore this gentleman for his unselfishness. As such, I have no reservations in endorsing Mr. Aubrey Major for President of the Guyana Football Federation, along with his team of professional businessmen and I am confident it is a decision well made.
Yacoob Ally
Chairman
Air Services Limited

 

Sealey’s Support for Matthias et al!

Dear Editor,
After weeks of campaigning, endorsements, support and pledges of development, accountability, transparency and numerous letters along with interviews and articles. Four presidential candidates namely: Aubrey ‘Shangai’ Major, Christopher Matthias, Alfred King and Ivan Persaud will all converge on Friday, April 12th, 2013 at the Le Meriden Pegasus, the venue for the Ordinary Congress of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) with the most important item on the Agenda; “Elections of Office Bearers”.
With former President, Mr. Colin Klass being unable to contest the presidency, due to the imposition of a 26 months ban compliments of FIFA, due to ‘financial impropriety”. The stage’s now set for a fresh red carpet to be rolled out, ushering in “the Dawn of a new Era”! New in the sense that never before in Klass’ autocratic rule, has so many individuals stepped up to the podium, in pursuit of the presidency.
However, the football fraternity in unison must all say thank you to Klass for his selfishness. That for his 22 years of dictatorial policies, he never pulled under his wing at least 1 person, to pursue training as a successor. While he would have further entrenched himself on sub-committees of CFU, CONCACAF and eventually FIFA! But no, his vision was an iron-fisted rule, which continued to promote personal self-aggrandizement and continued under-development of the sport!
Editor, because of my outspokenness, I, was sidelined and overlooked, never having the privilege of being chosen to attend an overseas International Administrator’s Course, which would have benefited Guyana significantly. Nevertheless, despite retiring I’m still around, providing meaningful advice whenever it’s needed. Could April 12, finally break the jinx of almost a 40 year dominance, of a Georgetown presidency in the sport?
Finally, in my opinion it should, which would automatically rule out Matthias for the presidency. Chris, my friend with no offence meant, two years as Hon. Secretary, GFA is too short a period for elevation to the presidency of the GFF.
Rather a Vice-Presidency for both yourself and Alfred King would suffice, with Ivan Persaud as a Committee Member and Major the presidency. Such an executive would display a keen sense of inclusiveness and allowing all bygones to be bygones.
While focusing on the task ahead of truly being committed of total football development! In addition to disposing of unwanted baggage that is on your slate from the GFA, since none of them fits the bill of being GFF executive material at this time. Abide your time Chris, and await your turn, don’t be judged as a 2nd Klass! If this is achieved I’ll be the first to congratulate you.
Lester Sealey

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