- offers himself as part of the solution

Head Coach of the Golden Jaguars football team Trinidadian Jamaal Shabazz has refused to be drawn into the dispute between the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) and the Guyana Football Federation’s president Colin Klass.

Jamaal Shabazz

President of the GFA Troy Mendonca had written Shabazz requesting that Shabazz states his position publicly on issues of mismanagement by Klass.

But Shabazz told Stabroek Sport yesterday that he had sought the advice of FIFA Vice-president and CONCACAF and CFU President Austin Jack Warner on the issue.

“I have sought the advice of FIFA Vice President, CONCACAF and CFU President and Special Advisor to the TTFF, Mr. Jack Warner in this matter because, although I am contracted to the GFF, this was only possible based on a loan agreement with my real bosses the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation.

“It is Mr. Warner and the TTFF who are responsible for assisting in my education and development both as a coach and a person.

“And it is they who have given me temporary leave to work with the GFF and Guyana football.

“On the advice of Mr. Warner and based on my own personal assessment of this matter I will not be drawn into taking any side nor become part of the continuation of what has now become a dispute.

“Instead I offer myself to part of the solution and would advise that CFU, CONCACAF and ultimately the FIFA has an avenue to deal with our problems, disputes and conflicts that will come up in our football though we have constitutions,” Shabazz wrote.

Shabazz said that as pointed out by Warner, the issue was not cut and dried and he just could not renounce or support Klass.

“My first advice is for a forum to be made available for the stakeholders in Guyana’s football to sit down face to face with someone appointed by the CFU to talk, to listen to each other and then look to solutions.

“I am bombarded every day by members of the public in Guyana to state my position and I hear hurt, pain, good things and bad things.

“Conveniently activists like to say that the voice of the people is the voice of God. But I disagree; the voice of the people can also at times be the voice of ignorance.

“And it is because of this I suggest that the GFF establish such a forum similar to the FIFA Comunity Conference and get CFU to send an independent arbitrator and let’s talk before this matter reaches to constitutional stage of conflict.”

Shabazz said just as activists use the voice of the people conveniently so too did people in power use constitutions to entrench themselves in positions of authority.