Letter to the Sports Editor…GFF’s Matthias outfox his plotters who tried to get rid of him

May 01, 2014 Sports

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Dear Editor,
The Guyana Football Federation Conference held on 26th April 2014, was indeed an interesting one. Mr Editor, it would be remiss of me if I fail to mention that I have never seen or experienced such high degree of arrogance, disrespect and an unparliamentarily decorum on display by some individuals who are in positions of influence and authority. These individuals for years were in the shadows and some were a part of the tyrannical rule of the previous administration.
They have never fought nor had they the testicular fortitude to challenge the “king” of the past regime who ruled with an “iron fist” for fear of being marginalized or cut off from the so called sweet or piece of the pie. Their displayed attitude caused me to be reminded of the lion, who wrestled with the ox for his meal, after he would have exhausted all of his energies to conquer the beast, here comes the scavengers coming to stake their claim of the lion’s kill.
The bully tactics of those individuals on the day on the conference to try to dictate the play of the game was well refereed by the President. Mr Matthias’ display of humility and control in the mist of the exhibits of uncultured behavior by men of repute and high office in the presence of FIFA and CONCACAF was nothing but a display of good leadership and character.
The constitution of any body or organization is to give guidance and the GFF constitution is to do same. The motion of no-confidence put forward by the member association and seconded by another member association did NOT in its entirety satisfy the constitutional requirement of how a motion is to be tabled.
These learned men, whose foremost defence, for most of their arguments was the use of the constitution. They conveniently however wanted to disband it when the very constitution when used by the President, to put holes in their plan and it failed. What form of justice it is, Mr Editor, when one deems a man guilty (no-confidence) and cannot say what he is guilty of, but yet, wants him to be punished without an explanation? Isn’t this a blatant expression of tyranny and dictatorship? Do these individuals seriously want to lead Guyana’s football for the INTEREST of its players and its development?
The walk out of those gentlemen and lady including Executives of the “present” administration, Mr Persaud and Ms Dickenson because they could not bully their way and get what they wanted, did not in any way surprise me. Their actions epitomize why the state of football in Guyana was crippled and stifled for years.
It was because of selfish ambitions and desires of individuals who did not have Guyana’s football or its players at heart.
The failure of the auditor’s report from being presented due to the displayed actions on the floor was indeed sad.
This report and the damning revelations it possess, which shows a clearer picture for the state of Guyana’s football during all those years and its eminent potential to persuade individuals to make more informed decisions and actions for  the way forward in Guyana’s football, is left to be seen.
What is most frightening, and they say actions speak louder than words, is that most of those individuals who disrupted the conference unceremoniously because they were defeated by Matthias’ use of facts, evidence and the very constitution that gives guidance to the conduct of the federation, are learned men and woman. Their actions should have been guided by their intellect but they choose to betray their intelligence to satisfy their selfish ambitions. The fear is, that despite the pure indications of gross misappropriation of funds by the previous administration for years, the peer pressure that will occur and group thing that was demonstrated on the day in question, will allow those individuals actions and decisions to once again be led not by intellect but by selfish desires, ambitions, promises and paid offs made.
To the individuals of the various associations and affiliates who are being hoodwinked and bamboozled by individuals who see you as nothing but a pawn in “their chess” game, a stepping stone for “their ascension” to whatever post they desire, I tell you, do not be the house slave to their mastership, emancipate yourself from this group thing and be an independent thinker and do what is best for Guyana’s Football.
The change we all once long for has come, don’t contribute to enslaving us again because of some selfish individuals. Be smart and do the right thing for Guyana’s football, give the man a chance. After all it was Matthias, with the help of others, was the ‘Cuffy’ in this struggle for change in the GFF.
Yours faithfully,
Jermaine Figueira

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