Letter to the Sport Editor...GFF’s Expressions of Interest

Letter to the Sport Editor…GFF’s Expressions of Interest

Sep 17, 2013 Sports

Dear Editor,
An advertisement appearing in the S.N. publication of 18.08.13 on Pg: 17A captioned “Guyana Football Federation Expressions of Interest” have somehow left me amazed, since a total of eleven competitions have been listed, along with two Courses/Seminars for Coaching and Refereeing. However, strangely and most importantly, absolutely nothing about Administration, which is one of the most important areas of the sport.
What remains of mutual interest however is “the mandate given by the Congress of the GFF, in pursuance of the development of the discipline of football, in accordance with the Statutes of FIFA, CONCACAF, CFU and the Constitution of the GFF”. Editor, if this is to be taken seriously, with a pinch of salt. Then the “self inflicted wound of under-development would continue as a festering sore, with a band-aid covering”!
For personal and public edification, can we all be apprised of the Statutes of FIFA, CONCACAF and CFU that entails the development of football, encompassing 9 out of 11 inter-association competitions! With all associations comprising of male clubs, why it is age-limit and senior competitions are not being promoted at the inter-club level, under the auspices of the GFF? Suffice it to say that the GFF is probably the only Federation in the world that is coordinating inter-association football, as a catalyst for development!
Meanwhile, no sponsor that is committed to the sport’s development would be inclined to sponsor inter-association football, save and except female. This primarily due to a small amount of clubs, But it should be compulsory that each affiliate of the GFF have at least 3 female clubs, and associates 2, with all of them having a structured youth programme. Definitely, in the long term this would eliminate a repeat of the national embarrassment the female national under-17 endured recently. Wherein from the 3 matches played, a similar amount of losses were secured; conceding 40 goals, while failing to score, with a goal difference of -40! Is this historical in the annals of CONCACAF/CFU?
Finally, since from all indications a comprehensive study was not undertaken to ascertain meaningful development, in a new dispensation. Then once again it should be back to the drawing board, “as the days for carrying dead weight is over”! In the absence of a mandatory ruling that participation in GFF coordinated/sanctioned competitions, must entail domestic activity in each association. As such a review of associations and clubs structures must be taken into consideration, in the absence of Courses/Seminars for Administration. Is it now crystal clear that associations are finding it difficult to attract sponsorship for domestic competitions? Has the GFF found itself in a similar predicament, hence the “Expressions of Interest”?
With the 9th month of the year already in progress and only Georgetown (recently resumed) along with West Demerara, having some measure of activity at the senior level, when exactly would the other associations commence their respective competitions, for participation, in the GFF’s senior competitions?
By the way is it still a requirement for Associations to submit their Annual Calendar of Activities in print to the GFF, prior to the latter’s compilation? With the players being almost another important aspect in the sport, since they spend a considerable period of time in training prior to competitive matches, are they now satisfied with the “Expressions of Interest, in a new dispensation” That has failed to coordinate competitions in their interest, moreover, at the youth level?
While a one around league is being promoted for 16 clubs nationally, rather than two rounds for 8 clubs, and 16 clubs in a lower division playing one round also nationally, given the results that is currently being obtained in West Demerara and Georgetown (16-1 & 8-0), would it be prudent to have 16 teams? The notion of playing two rounds gives coaches and the respective clubs the opportunity to correct mistakes made in the first round for a better performance thereafter. In addition to more playing time with their regional contemporaries in CFU and further afield!
Lester Sealey

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Letter to the Sport Editor…GFF’s Expressions of Interest

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