Dear Editor,
A happy and prosperous New Year to all and sundry, moreover, to those who are seriously committed to the continued development of football. Meanwhile with the FIFA appointed Normalization Committee granting approval to the Associations of Berbice, East Bank and East Coast collectively, along with those of Georgetown, Upper and West Demerara to coordinate their end-of-the-year, football tournaments, there would be four overall. If Bartica is given permission as well then there would be five tournaments in all.
However, the Normalization Committee should request that the respective coordinators should submit tournament reports in addition to audited financial statements. What readily comes to mind is an article in the print media about a team being uneasy over the prize money, because the advertised winning sum of $1,000,000 was subsequently reduced to $800,000. I had previously commented publicly about contractual obligations. Before the first ball is kicked, all prize monies have normally been lodged, or if not a letter of commitment from a reputable sponsor, saying they will honour payments. Other sources of income usually cover other expenses which are taken care of within a budgetary framework of income and expenditure.
Meanwhile is the Upper Demerara Football Association executive legitimate? An IMC has been appointed, and it is common knowledge that the term IMC simply means caretaker. So, how within this context can a chairman subsequently assume the role of president? Was he elected and were there elections for office bearers? Mind you, prior to the re-convening of the ordinary congress, a significant number of clubs had written the former GFF President, re the representation by UDFA delegates. With nothing meaningful emerging, then the next best option is the involvement of the normalisation committee in resolving the issue.
Editor, over the years I have always been guided by the notion that administrators who have not mastered their specific area of contribution for the sport’s development, should desist from venturing into uncharted waters. It’s within this context I’m forced to comment on an unjustified public criticism of Jamal Shabbaz, former Golden Jaguars senior head coach, by the secretary of Fruta Conquerors who is oblivious as to what coaching a senior national team entails. If that had not been the case, the name Denzil Thompson would not have surfaced.
In last year’s Caribbean Cup, Guyana under Thompson played 3 matches, won none, drew 1 and lost 2, in addition to being scoreless. Does this dismal performance still entitle Mr Thompson to be considered? As it relates to Dover, the failure to attend advanced coaching courses deprives Guyana continuously of the modern methods that coaching demands. Alpha’s continued success locally cannot be equated with that of our regional counterparts because of the significant advantage the club enjoys as a semi-professional outfit. Nevertheless, it is still is devoid of a structured development programme, which could ensure that replacements of equal quality would be forthcoming from an efficient youth system. Instead it is attracting players from other clubs with pledges of financial remuneration.
In the final analysis attracting a foreign coach would come at an enormous cost that may at this juncture be beyond the affordability of the GFF. It also must be taken into consideration that the absence of proper training facilities serves as a deterrent to attracting a non-Caribbean national.
Yours faithfully,
Lester Sealey
