Dear Editor,
It’s with great pleasure that I commend the bold efforts of Messrs Donald Duff and Marlon Munroe, Sports Editor and journalist respectively, for the extensive coverage on the football saga that Stabroek Sports has been providing almost on a daily basis for the past two weeks. The saga, involving the Guyana Football Federation and the Georgetown Football Association, relates primarily to the denial of voting rights to the GFA for the Annual General Meeting of the GFF. ‘Sports Scope – Our View’ and ‘Sports journalists at times find that everything isn’t “cooked and curried”’ published in SN on April 9 and 10 exposed the extremely high level of intellectual dishonesty that surrounds football in Guyana. Editor, I do hope that the extended arm of investigative journalism is nurtured to further expose the ‘maximum leadership syndrome.’
Let me review some of the voting members: Firstly, Bartica, an association with voting rights, whose allegiance to the GFF President is no secret. Those individuals were proud to honour Mr Klass with an award for his contributions and dedicated service to the sport in Guyana, despite the fact that Bartica is devoid of any development overall and would rather bask in the sunshine of under-development. Secondly, there is East Demerara, which is also devoid of a development plan and offered the GFF Plaisance Community Centre Ground as a venue for National League matches. But, lo and behold, the rules were broken! The playing surface left much to be desired; no changing room facilities proper were in place; the warm-up area was non-existent, since the grass at 14:00 hrs was being cut for commencement one hour later; and most importantly, the dimensions of the penalty area measured 16 by 18 metres. Thirdly, there is East Bank, where there has been virtually nothing since the departure of former president, James Lewis.
Fourthly, there is West Demerara, which is also devoid of a development plan to the extent that in one instance a goalpost fell down at Wales ground in an under-17 inter-association match, which had to be aborted. Fifthly, there is Women’s, which is the worst of all, since the GFF organizes and coordinates female inter-association football.
As a consequence can one expect any support for Georgetown from anyone of these five affiliates, all of whom have voting rights? Emphatically no!
Sometimes, the runner stumbles, but it remains prudent for the runner to pick himself up, dust off and continue the race until it’s won. Georgetown, for two consecutive years 2008-2009 had 16 competitions from under-11 to seniors, even inviting teams from East Demerara, East Bank and West Demerara to participate at the youth level.
Where is the reward? Combine all five of the previously mentioned affiliates and within two years they did not have 16 competitions. Is this development?
Today, it’s Georgetown and Upper Demerara; who will it be tomorrow and the day after? Or, maybe the day will come when all and sundry don’t have voting rights. Together, in a unified voice Mr Klass and his cohorts must be told enough is enough!
Yours faithfully,
Lester Sealey
