Letter to the Sports Editor…Letter to the FIFA General Secretary

Jul 08, 2014 Sports

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Dear Mr Secretary,
We in Guyana have a serious Administrative problem plaguing us in this part of the region. That was the reason for a faction of Football Administrators making a move to oust Mr Christopher Matthias as President of the Guyana Football Federation. In hindsight they probably went about it wrong but they felt it was the correct modus operandi based on the lack of vision and wisdom of this guy.
Sir, this individual comes across as a dictator and self-opinionated, with an ego which is hampering the development of football in Guyana. He preaches accountability, transparency, structure & development and one year in power has seen football digress.
Let me see if I can list down some of the atrocities that are being perpetrated by our President.
The Vice President resigned after he questioned some high handed and dictatorial decisions that the President made without consulting the Executive & General Council.
He even sent the VP a lawyer’s letter which actually turned ugly hence the VP, a qualified engineer, resigning in frustration. Mr Matthias was delighted, because VP Adams was identifying his failures and he was a treat to his iron grip.
He initiated for one of the bigger Associations’ Executives (UDFA) to be suspended because they defied a so called directive not to play a game which the GFF sanctioned on New Year’s Day. Mr Secretary if you can initiate an enquiry you will be amazed to hear of the irregularities that transpired with the playing of the tournament which resulted in the executive suspension. What is interesting to know is that Mr Matthias called an Extra Ordinary Congress, which is unconstitutional, to deal with the so called trial. Presidents don’t call Congress, maybe in a dictatorial regime and the GFF is bordering on being led down that road.  He usually says that FIFA and CONCACAF are in constant dialogue with him.
Mr Secretary, Guyana was slated to participate in a CONCACAF Beach Soccer tournament sometime last year and he withdrew the team after he was finding it difficult to finance the air fare, however there was a travel agency who was willing to give the GFF credit. But he refused it saying that the GFF could not afford to send the team and FIFA and CONCACAF had assured him that if he withdrew from participating there would not have been any penalty. Hence he withdrew the team on the eve of the team departure. Some months after the Gen Secretary received word from FIFA how do they intend to pay the fine and he was amazed.
The Gen Secty approached the President on the matter and to his surprise and bewilderment he was shown a letter which the President received quite a while, probably pondering how to deal with that issue regarding the fine, which FIFA took out from the Annual Grant.
The Goal Project Issue is another matter which is deliberately being stifled by the President, the reason or reasons are baffling all the football pundits, Government who are behind the project and the footballers and public.
There are only four eligible executives around and only two are functioning. One VP resigned, one VP was suspended unconstitutional, one VP has been calling on the President to resign publically and has withdrawn his service and another Committee Member has absented herself due issues with the President forthrightness.  The Gen Secretary resigned due to many, many issues, too much to mention.
He has handpicked two of his colleagues to be Vice President, replacing the two who has resigned and suspended. This is a breach of GFF Constitution and by extension FIFA & CONCACAF. The Accountant has resigned due improper accounting practices that will put a strain on the institution’s finances.
FIFA has been sending funds to Guyana on a constant basis yet the monies are not being used for the purpose what It came for. Football is not being developed as is expected. Nothing is being done locally, just much talk.
Quite recently the most powerful Associations and Affiliates attempted to rescue Guyana’s Football but somewhere along the way the defaulted.
But Sir, something has to be radically wrong with the administration of football in Guyana for all of the aforementioned and the many more deficiencies that are transpiring in Guyana.
No National Male game since he came into power. We have a strong Female team, yet they are being overlooked.
Mr Secretary, please do something real fast to save Guyana Football or you may be forced to ban us and that will be a sad day for Guyana. Send in a high level team to Guyana as early as possible.
Please take the concerns seriously.
Thank you
Yours in football
Gerald Archibald Smith

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