Where is the professed integrity?

Dec 12, 2017 Letters

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DEAR EDITOR,
The sudden petition made by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) to rein in all football promoters under the guise of being the sole authorised caretaker of the sport must be viewed with suspicion.
In an article that appeared in the Sunday edition of the December 10, Stabroek News under the caption ‘GFF moves to have greater control over tournaments’, the GFF, among other things, said it had engaged the support of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to ensure that permits for tournaments are only granted following the approval of the GFF.
The release added that being the final adjudicator of all football matters, and with a constitutional mandate to control all forms of the game, promoters and coordinators will now be screened prior to being given approval to host tournaments.
It further stated that the new development follows the actions of some who coordinate tournaments without the secured prize monies and other logistical arrangements in place without the oversight of the GFF.
The GFF seems to have overreached its mandate and jurisdiction in engaging the GPF in such matters, and the only conclusion that could be drawn is the beginning of a messy situation for the sport.
This kind of flexing of muscles only serves to develop administrators whose actions are self-serving, and all it does is bring the beautiful game into disrepute.
We all knew what that past period represented, a period of dictatorship, imposition and cronyism that even the current administration fought to change, so it is somewhat perplexing that its posture now is to dictate, even if it means jumping out of its jurisdiction and mandate.
The GFF has no business in getting involved with the granting of Police permits; that is not their role.
Rather, they are in the business of ensuring that the sport is kept on a developmental path, while also ensuring that its associate members understand their role as assisting in this regard.
Any other aspect is more advisory, and should not be seen as imposing its will, especially when it is not in its ambit.
There have also been allegations of the GFF’s contemplation of writing the custodians of venues controlled by the Government of Guyana, requesting that they refuse the use of facilities unless approved by the GFF.
If this is true, then the GFF must be reminded that every taxpayer has made a contribution to the realisation of those facilities and is entitled to enjoy the use of them without seeking their consent.
Should these allegations and/or aspirations be proven true, then the GFF has obviously lost its way.
It has to be something about this office that in a short space of time alters the personalities of officials who campaign with professed integrity, but suddenly change course.
Guyana’s football will remain stagnated, no matter how many foreign-based players we recruit, because of its management that always seem to sacrifice real macro development for micro management, pushing its nose into areas it has no business with.
Since when has the GFF had jurisdiction over the street-styled format is the question being asked by all and sundry. The notion that is being peddled around is that certain external elements have now assumed the role of advisers, clearly for their own benefit.
There seems to be a departure of fairness on behalf of the GFF and this is the intrinsic apprehension of many promoters following the release that appeared in last Sunday’s article.
Just to give an example of such, is the treatment of the Magnum Brand tournament which was given non-approval to accommodate associate member the Georgetown Football Association (GFA)’s year-end competition.
The unfairness is clear to see, unless you are a creepy backer of unjust acts.
Up until the time of writing, no word has been spoken of that tournament and both parties have remained silent on the issue, while the Magnum organizers had expended monies to commence their promotion.
Such actions serve no one’s interest, least of all the GFF; it only fosters unhelpful positions which time and time again have proven to hinder the sport’s support and success.
Football suffered immensely at the hands of selfish and greedy administrators whose actions caused the withdrawal of a large section of the corporate community, so it would be prudent for the current administration to be mindful of its actions in an effort to avoid the pitfalls of those that preceded it.
President Wayne Forde had promised dialogue with promoters and coordinators before making certain decisions, but the evidence is that he has reneged on that promise.
He has to show examples of promoters not having the prize monies, absence of logistical arrangements and other transgressions he spoke of in the article, before calling on authorities outside his domain for support.
It is not warranted, and as such he is wrong, and has evidently put the cart before the horse in the absence of dissemination of guidelines.
No one is attempting to take away the rightful authority of the GFF, but the entity’s approach seems highhanded and antagonistic.
The GFF chose to place an article in the national newspapers, before meeting with stakeholders. Could that be interpreted as for the ‘good of the game’, only the GFF has the answer.
Every sport body needs some semblance of order, but unfortunately football always happens to be the one sport that operates contrary to the norm. There is too much injection of emotions and retributive actions, and the sooner we move away from these two impulses only then will we witness real development.
Just remember every promoter/coordinator is a stakeholder who may very well have the answer(s) to the outdoor problem.
Stop being selective; strive to be inclusive.
For the good of the game.
Football enthusiast

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