Dear Editor,

You are right, Mr Klass. You are right.

In July of 2007, the Iraqi football team won the Asian cup, and I remember the report on the victory pointed out that with inadequate materials, training facilities and technical support the players had triumphed. The game they played became bigger than their circumstances. Let’s assume for good measure that Mr Klass fouled up in all the ways that have been claimed; he still did not have the last say.

The last say was had by the 11 players who took to the field; they were the ones who could have said, “You know what, today we come off this field as winners!”

To further strengthen my point, if the triumph of a team had only to do with the resources available to them in terms of stipends, trainers and training facilities, then hands down, the USA should be producing the best teams. Remember, even Puerto Rico beat them in the World Baseball Championships, the sport which they invented and which is their national pastime.

In closing, even though I’ve been living out of Guyana for a while, whenever I read that the team didn’t make it, it still hurts me. When they are triumphant, I celebrate too, so winning and losing is a collective responsibility.

The things that need to be fixed administratively must be fixed; they contribute to a team’s success or failure.  And the players?

You also have your part to play in the success or failure of Guyana’s football.

Yours faithfully, 
Daison Marks