The GFF doesn’t need an investigation

Apr 27, 2018 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
Reference is hereby made to the above caption as it relates to the publication of an article captioned. “GFF launches investigation into Futsal shooting incident. S.N 19.04.18.
In acknowledging “the Holy Prophet Mohammed, he had to go to the mountain, the mountain didn’t go to him”. By a similar token, it was a colossal mistake on the federation’s behalf to publicly state that, “a meeting would be convened with stakeholders and private promoters, to regularize privately run tournaments, moreover street football”.
Editor, in my estimation what the GFF, should have done was to document its conditionalities, publicize and circulate it to Affiliates, Sports Ministry and the National Sports Commission. In so doing, clubs via their respective Associations and most importantly players and officials would have known, the Federation means “serious business”.
As a consequence, the incident which occurred at the National Gymnasium on 14.4.18 that disrupted the finals of the PETRA-coordinated/Corona-sponsored Futsal finals, was “a ticking time bomb in the making”. That at a government owned and controlled facility, without some semblance of decency and social decorum as in the past, left much to be desired.
Reiteratively and remonstratively, a high level of duplicity exists, since during the course of last year, a finals had to be aborted due to “Crowd encroachment, at the ungodly hour of 02:30hrs; while alcoholic beverages were being sold, in defiance of the ruling from the Public Security Minister. Such sales must cease at 02:00hrs”.
With this breach of security, occurring in a tournament, co-sponsored by the NSC, did it register in the mindset of the NSC’s Director, stringent policies, in collaboration with the GFF, prior to rental, must be in place? Would both parties now sit together, and decide upon a “menu of measures” for the staging of future tournaments?
Of course, the Guyana Police Force, Fire Service and St John’s Ambulance Brigade/Red Cross are all equal partners in their respective areas of Crowd Control Security, Evacuation, First aid and physiotherapy.
Editor, I maybe wrong, but when I am, I remain subject to correction. The Sports Director should, if he hasn’t already, have reached with the Chairman, Providence National Stadium, towards, “Contractual arrangements and obligations, ahead of rental”, whereby (semi) international standards are always maintained i.e. “Prohibition of selling beverages, in glass bottles.”
I’m absolutely positive that the National Gymnasium, by the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) standards, would not receive approval as a venue, to host a CFU Futsal qualifying leg. Since basic amenities such as, “Medical room, visible fire extinguishers, fire alarm, security room and adequate emergency exits” would come up short.
Finally, as a previous participant in a FIFA-funded, GFF-coordinated one day seminar, “Stadium Management and Security”, at the G.C.C pavilion, in 2008, I recall that the once world famous Bourda Ground, was deemed “unfit to host a World Cup Qualifier”. The rest is now history! By the way, does the National Gymnasium have an official time of closure?
Respectfully yours,
Lester Sealey.

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