Is the GFF Executive, still in charge of football in Guyana?

Sep 08, 2017 Letters

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Dear Editor,
I still support the notion of the philosopher, who once said “if one were to ask me for the perquisite of being involved in sports I would say the first thing is to be happy”. I’m no longer involve in the administration of football, since 2010. My tenure of 28 years began in 1982, with a modest commencement as a Divisional Representative. Thereafter, I climbed the Administrative ladder as a Divisional Secretary; Assistant Secretary/Treasurer (twice); Honorary Secretary elected (thrice) and in one instance Public Relations Officer, Hon-Secretary- I.M.C and Administrative Consultant. Suffice, it to say that all the relevant positions were within the Georgetown Football League (GFL) and Georgetown Football Association (GFA).
As a consequence it remains “mind boggling” of what the administration of football has come to in our nation’s capital. Simply put a “prolonged dry spell” of domestic inactivity. That can only be equated with reading out the Riot Act because of the loss of voting rights at General Council meetings of the GFF, with attendance still being a perquisite. The status quo as an affiliate is replaced by an Associate”.
Where is the happiness? Is it a figment of one’s imagination? Would the present administrators continue to live in a world of glorious uncertainties, where happiness offers no guarantee? During my tenure, there were a few disappointments. At the end of each season, being happy and satisfied was always duly rewarding with an achievement collectively for our Executive to complete at least 85% competitions. Further, in two instances, over a two year period sixteen sponsored competitions were completed, with the relevant reports and audited financial statements.
How does the GFF Executive view the unfortunate, money grabbing syndrome by private promoters, whose basic aim is enrichment at the expense of exploiting the footballers. Interestingly, the majority of the players are products of the GFF, by virtue of being affiliated to clubs. As such it’s beyond my “stretch of imagination” that feature matches kicks off at 23:00 hours. Recently a finals was inconclusive at 02:30 hrs.
Where are the collective voices of the GFF, General Council towards seeking a meaningful dialogue, via an Emergency Congress to discuss, the continued prostitution of 5-a- side football, with no tangible financial benefits for the GFF, being derived? Why the entire bunch of “egotistic and toothless poodles” can’t see beyond the tip of their noses? that the GFF can emerge out of the “dark casting shadows” towards imposing the relevant levy fees, or sanction the players, who participate.
One thing I know for sure, this “confounded nonsense” would have never have occurred under the stewardship of former President and General Secretary, Colin Klass and George Rutherford respectively, due to the vibrancy of the General Council. By the way if it was the Kashif & Shangai Organisation in the forefront as an organiser, the level of disgruntlement, in every “nook and cranny” would have scaled the pinnacle of Mount Roraima. Where are the “prophets and doom and gloom within the media today? By the way, what has happened to the “Audit for the finances of the 2014 world Cup Qualifier Guyana vs Mexico”, which received adequate publicity, in both the electronic and print media?
Editor, with the level of any sport, being determined by the level of Administration in place, it would be interesting to know if the present GFF-Administration would review all previous contracts inked between a past GFF Executive, (Klass- led) and private promoters for approval of tournaments. Failing of this would entail “dire consequences” for a legitimate Club / Association. While “Nero fiddles, Rome burns.” Football is the world’s most emotional sports with the largest spectatorship. It has most participating countries than other sports. It is the most financially lucrative of sports to the extent that the highest paid player worldwide is earning €600,000 weekly, after taxes. Additionally, the disbursements accrued from profits at World Cups enables 212 participating countries to benefit from a bonus, and not forgetting development funds.
Nevertheless, at the end of the day, our beloved Guyana would be laughed upon for its “continued underdevelopment of the sport”. Private promoters can continue to have a field day with coordinating tournaments unchecked. In the same vein can anyone of the lot, who were recently touted in the print media, of supposedly having the requisite administrative acumen of organizing, compile a comprehensive statistical tournament report?
Surely, this would exclude Troy Mendonca, Co-Director, Petra Organisation, but definitely would include at least two journalists, one of whom was extremely critical in the past of purported shortcomings in the sport. In erstwhile organizing a tournament for entirely financial gains, can never be equated with organizing an “Annual Calendar of Activities consisting of development from the embryonic stage (PEE-WEE) – seniors.
Lester Sealey

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