Dear Editor,
This is in relation to an article published in K.N. (03.08.16) captioned: `Banks DIH Ltd, / ABSAA Under- 13 Inter- Community Football resumes today’ wherein it cited Parade Ground as the venue for the games.
How on God’s Good Earth of all places was the Parade Ground chosen as the venue to facilitate this competition?
Is this for real, or a figment of my imagination?
For over two decades the Parade Ground, which falls directly under the jurisdiction of the Mayor and City Council, was allowed to deteriorate to its present state.
A student population of approximately 5,000 within its close proximity were denied a recreational facility for this same period.
Is it prudent to play organised football at such a venue, unkempt and non- maintained, moreover involving Under- 13 youths who may be playing organised football, or some semblance of it for the first time in their lives?
Don’t these youths deserve the basic amenities of a lavatory, change room, bleachers and a common stand pipe?
How can Banks DIH Ltd, ABSAA, Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and the Petra Organisation that are listed among sponsors, with football knowledge accept this level of administrative inefficiency? Banks DIH Ground, Thirst Park (Saturday and Sunday only) along with GFC and Camptown could have been approached for the use of their respective grounds, which offer a 110 % better playing surface.
Former Canadian International and Hall of Famer, Alex Bumbury, a GFF International Ambassador who’s in pursuit of an ultra- modern sports academy, doesn’t deserve his name being dragged into the gutter, with a football competition being played at the unplayable Parade Ground. If this facility was that good then Digicel and the GFA would have utilised it for matches. By the way were official officiating personnel from the National Referees Council used for the matches?
Yours faithfully,
Lester Sealey
