Urling: Foreign-based Golden Jaguars will return home!

Dec 07, 2014 Sports

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By Santokie Nagulendran
Clinton Urling, chairman of the FIFA Normalisation Committee which has been tasked with leading the Guyanese

Football Federation for the next ten months, kindly gave an exclusive interview in which he outlined the committee’s vision and plans for football in Guyana:
Santokie Nagulendran (SN): When FIFA approached you in October, did they express why they had chosen you to be part of the Normalisation Committee?
Clinton Urling (CU): In making their decision on appointing the Normalisation Committee (NC), FIFA were looking for individuals with high integrity, a solid academic background, accomplished in their professional lives, leadership experience (in leading teams and organizations), as well as individuals that had little or no previous formal involvement in Guyana’s football fraternity. The latter criterion was necessary and prudent considering the combative circumstances and distrust that existed at the time.
SN: What attracted you to join the committee and under-take such a huge task?
CU: Football is one of our major national sports and many young people play the game for the love of it. However, the sport also provides an avenue, which would otherwise not be available, particularly to those at the grassroots level and in less fortunate communities, to rise above their current circumstances and earn a decent standard of living if they are willing to put in the work necessary and excel.
Additionally, besides providing entertainment and recreation for our citizens, the sport can contribute to nation building and provide employment (administrators, referees, coaches, players, event planners, concession stands, security, merchandise designers, etc) and revenues (games receipts, taxes, etc) to our GDP.
Moreover, being affiliated with FIFA, Guyana’s football does not operate in isolation, but rather is integrated into a global programme. This global programme is the largest such for any individual sport in the world. This provides an enormous platform for Guyana to gain exposure at an international level if we succeed at international competitions and if our administrators can ascend to leadership positions within FIFA’s administrative structure.
Taking all this into consideration and being mindful of what is at stake nationally and globally, the decision to serve was an easy one.
SN: What is your plan and vision for Guyanese football over the next 10 months?
CU: Overall vision is to see the professional administration of football in Guyana at all levels: respect for each other; respect for the rules and statutes of the game; respect for the GFF’s constitution and constitutions of the members of the GFF; full transparency and accountability at all levels; and cooperation and unity among all football stakeholders.
On the football side, much of the focus will be on the holistic development of the sport and in filling key positions. The main position will be the appointments of a Technical Director who will have the responsibility to craft our entire football programme for the short and medium term. He will not act alone, but will receive the input from all stakeholders in the football community.
Grassroots, youth and women’s football will be a major priority moving forward. Also, there will be a major focus on our elite national teams at the various levels.
Besides our stated mandate of constitutional reform and managing the day-to-day affairs of the GFF, The NC will also produce a 3-4 year strategic plan for Guyana’s football and we will move to reactivate and execute one or two phases of the FIFA Goal Project, which focuses on infrastructure and facilities’ development.
Here is a list of expected outcomes which we shared with our members recently:
-Reform of GFF Secretariat
-Professionally run and managed GFF
-Full accountability and transparency at GFF
-Financial and technical support from FIFA to develop Football in Guyana
-Annual Budget and football programme presented early in the year
-Exploration of the possibility and format of a professional league
-New and modern facilities; every regional association develops a special project
-Continued GFF support to less developed associations/members to build capacity
-Opportunities for player, coaches, referees, administrators to participate in many training and development programmes
-Lucrative GFF year-end tournament with high percentage of net earnings going to members equally
-Investment of resources towards player development; possibility of a player academy where monthly stipend is paid to best and most promising talent
-Input of Member Associations and giving them serious consideration
– Number one sporting fraternity in the country
SN: After a month in the role of heading the Committee, what have you identified as the biggest issues currently hindering Guyanese football?
CU: I prefer to look at the glass as half full and focus on the opportunities which can propel Guyanese football. Some of the issues that hindered the development of the sport in the past are still there, but over time, once we steadfastly operate in a rule based and professional environment, those hindrances will start to dissipate.
SN: How often do you communicate with FIFA?
CU: FIFA is offering tremendous support to this initiative for it to succeed, so communications are sent back and forth regularly. Since this is an unprecedented process, the NC would seek advice and guidance from FIFA on matters of our mandate and that which concerns the development of the game.
SN:  With Guyana’s Senior National Team due to play 2018 World Cup qualifiers either in March or June next year at the latest, will you be looking to assemble a squad soon? If so, when would you like to see Guyana’s National Team play its first friendly game?
CU: Yes, Guyana will participate in the World Cup qualifiers. We will soon begin the process of appointing a Technical Director and decisions will be made with regards to reactivation of the squad and who will coach and manage the team. One change you will see is the reintroduction of foreign-based players back into the squad.
No firm dates on friendly games, this will have to be decided in conjunction with our overall programme framework for 2015.
SN: Will the committee have a say in identifying the person to succeed as GFF President?
CU: No, that is totally up to the members of the GFF who participate and vote at the Congress.
SN: Finally, what is your favourite football team and who is your current favourite footballer?
CU: My favourite player and team is my 7-year old son Chad who attends and plays for his class at the School of the Nations in Guyana.
SN:  Thank you Mr Urling for your answers, I wish you and the committee all the best in your mission to change Guyanese Football for the better.

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