Latest update February 23rd, 2025 1:40 PM
Oct 07, 2015 Sports
Dear Editor,
Mr. Terrence Grant’s letter that appeared in your sports pages on Monday October 5, 2015 on an article I wrote is deserving of my response lest readers be led astray, as often occurs when misinterpretation and misunderstanding seek to establish truth.
Mr. Grant said that there were “inaccuracies/misconceptions” in the article – two terms used in their plural form, yet he only identified a singular fact that I referred to Sabola Gray as a former National player when she would have represented Guyana earlier this year.
It is unfortunate that with the stated experience of Mr. Grant, he would err in his differentiation of past and present. The Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) held its AGM and Elections last week.
It, therefore, means that all teams and activities were dissolved to facilitate the election process, which rendered all National players named on past teams “former” players, until such time that the new Executive would have named future teams.
It is in that context that I referred to Gray as a former national player and not in the context of having retired from the game to become an administrator (my assessment) as Mr. Grant would rather mislead readers into believing.
Secondly, Mr. Grant highlighted two notable performances from our Rugby team during the first tenure of GRFU President, Peter Green. At no time did I reference or question the performances. I, however, discussed the inconsistency of the period under the leadership of Green as compared to the dominant period (between 2006-2011).
I then suggested that Green may be struggling with leading two national associations as he is also President of the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation.
If we are to use Mr. Grant’s yardstick for measuring success then, for example, our West Indies Cricket team is successful, having last won a major title in 2012 (The ICC World T20). I am sure, notwithstanding the lack of consistency and pitiable performances, Mr. Grant would agree that our West Indies team is successful.
Mr. Grant would have been better off sticking to just the historical insight he gave into his long sojourn in the sport; I want to suspect that was the main aim of his letter: to highlight his personal contributions to the sport as opposed to fallaciously indicating that “inaccuracies/misconceptions” abound when none existed.
I should let Mr. Grant know that I am very familiar with Ms. Gray and I know she is capable of representing herself. If she felt slighted by my use of the word “former”, I am sure she would have let me know.
In addition, I had spoken to perhaps Guyana’s most experienced player and coach at the moment, Theodore Henry, who honestly agreed that all is not well with the sport he has dedicated almost his entire life to serving. Henry was considering walking into the horizon.
I pleaded with him to renew his commitment based on his experience and knowledge. The point is that the Mr. Grant would rather fool people into believing that all is well with the sport by presenting a facade, and that does nothing to develop the sport. Only an honest assessment can accomplish such a task. But then again, not everyone is honest.
Respectfully,
Edison Jefford
Feb 23, 2025
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