Dear Editor,
In Austin Warner’s opening address at the CFU’s 34th Congress, he referred to the failures, “In spite of the training courses, programmes and seminars funded by the FIFA and the CONCACAF, in spite of the FIFA grants received (each of you received over $1.3 million dollars and still remain the whipping boys and girls of your teams the last four years).” He went on to say, “The message I am here to deliver today at this the 34th Congress of the Caribbean Football Union is let’s shift the Paradigm and bring glory to the CFU.
“It begins with the abolition of insularity among member states. It begins with the abolition of infighting within members associations. It begins with the removal of ‘I’ and the introduction of ‘We’ and the recognition that no one can do it alone; we need the help of each other. Every Member Association over the next six months should present a strategic four-year Development Plan for Football. To state what you want is one thing; to tell us what you hope to achieve is another.”
Editor, it is true the address from Mr Warner, President of the CFU and CONCACAF and Vice President of FIFA remains factual and precise in urging the CFU delegates to stand and deliver for the substantial monies that FIFA over the last 12 years has doled out for development of the sport in the respective countries, in addition to the numerous courses that were conducted in the areas of refereeing, coaching and administration. Nevertheless, it’s still ironic that the entire CFU executive was returned en bloc unopposed. Isn’t this a case of insularity? More so, when it is considered that Guyana, for instance, is under the stewardship of Mr Klass, who will serve for another 4 years on the CFU executive including the period when the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) convenes its AGM. The defining moment for insularity will come when the Bartica FA, Berbice, East Demerara or West Demerara propose or second his nomination. Despite the fact that all four associations who have voting rights were never fined or reprimanded for failing to honour their obligations as hosts in various competitions under the auspicies of the GFF, additional monies has to be expended last year to facilitate ground preparation, accommodation, meals and travelling for the respective matches which had to be replayed. Is this fair to Georgetown and Upper Demerara, both of whom would have left no stone unturned in their regularization process?
Finally, “Let’s shift the Paradigm” means, let us have an example or pattern, according to the Oxford Dictionary. It would be interesting to see if the GFF can firstly, fulfil the mandate of submitting its four-year Strategic Development Plan within six months to the CFU General Secretary; and secondly, have an example or pattern that can deliver meaningful development, in all areas of football. Refereeing continues to standout on the international stage, followed by coaching, while occupying the cellar in a distant third place is administration. But of course this is not surprising, since the level of any sport is normally determined by the level of the administration in place. If this wasn’t the case then Liquid Gold could have facilitated Sunburst Camptown in a National League match last year, and Berbice would have informed Linden via the GFF that they couldn’t host the visitors in a female inter-association match, rather than allowing a wanton waste of money. And what of the last-minute scramble for participants in an administration course and seminar, which more often than not attracts the wrong set of participants. In one instance referees/assistants and a tournament coordinator were invited to save face and embarrassment so that the required numbers were in order. Already with Jamaica qualifying for this year’s under-17 World Cup, there is a clear indication that the JFF’s investment in a 6 weeks training camp in Brazil has paid dividends, despite the cost factor, in addition to their senior national coach Theodore ‘Tapper’ Whitmore journeying to Brazil for a 3 week assignment with two Paulista clubs, Atletico Clube Goianiense and Flamengo FC (both professional outfits). “The objective is to expose Whitmore through a number of attachments and assignments to gain as much knowledge and experience as possible about coaching philosophies and methodologies and general management skills.” When will the GFF embark on such a venture and shift the paradigm?
Yours faithfully,
Lester Sealey
