Dear Editor,
The absence of the Guyana Football Federation President or an official representative from the inaugural Scotia Bank/Pepsi/ Guyana Sports Development Foundation (GSDF) Schools Football Academy, which was officially launched on Saturday, April 12, 2011 at the Carifesta Sports Complex, Carifesta Avenue, should at least be of major concern to all and sundry. That such an auspicious occasion could not have attracted a GFF representative, is an indictment of how disrespectfully the nation’s governing body treats its contemporaries. There was the traditional march past by the ten participating schools, followed by brief remarks from representatives of the sponsors, DDL and Scotia Bank. In addition to Permanent Secretary of the Education Ministry, Mr Phulandar Khandi, Minister Frank Anthony of the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sport and Mr Colin Baker of the GSDF were present.
With such an historic occasion unfolding, maybe if the GFF President had been present, he could have outlined his vision for the development of youth football, which remains sadly lacking. Or is he ashamed to be in the presence of a few government functionaries?
Nevertheless, Guyana’s football President according to undisclosed reports departed the country Sunday morning for Montserrat, to attend that island’s Football Federation AGM. My, oh my! With the sad state of affairs in local football leading up to the AGM, how can the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) allow Mr Klass, of all people, one of its Vice-Presidents, to observe the affairs of its member? This is a clear indication that insularity is alive and well within the CFU executive, and not what its President was outlining at their recently held Congress.
Yours faithfully,
Sunil Dass
