Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Apr 04, 2013 Sports
Dear Sir,
Sports journalist, Rawle Welch of your newspaper is one of the very few in the profession, that I hold in high esteem for his balanced writings, impartiality and efficiency in relation to sporting events and by extension coverage of major issues affecting various sports disciplines. As such I was totally surprised to have read in one of his articles captioned “Acrimony, disputes, accusations of corruption still permeate football landscape” published in K.N. 27.03.13, that the individual for all of his journalistic attributes, spent a considerable amount of time highlighting all the negatives of Messrs: King and Major, two of the four presidential nominees for the presidency of the Guyana Football Federation, while providing a perfect image of Christopher Matthias, but inadvertently fails to mention Ivan Persaud, who was nominated by East Bank, and seconded by the Coaches Association. Whether this was an oversight or not, nevertheless should allow Mr. Welch to provide coverage of Persaud subsequently.
Editor, while it’s not my intention to defend the track record of any nominee, since I maybe accused of favouritism. At this juncture however, kindly permit me the space to expound on a few areas, along with the relevant rebuttals.
The General Council Structure of the GFF entails the executive consisting of 6 individuals; 9 associations; 2 of which Lethem and Essequibo are managed by IMC’s. While the two largest and most active Georgetown and Upper Demerara, in the past 10 years were, devoid of “voting rights” along with the Coaches Association, which at one time became defunct, as one of the 3 affiliates. The other 2 are the Referees and Women.
So, in actuality with meaningful attendance at a General Council Meeting, representation amounts to 31, compromising to 2 representatives per association/affiliate and the General Secretary. When was the last year, did this occur and would it be evident on April 12, 2013 when the Ordinary Congress is convened?
During the period of 2008-2010 and prior, attendance was around 24, with 19 having voting rights! As such whenever the restoration of voting rights for both Georgetown and Upper Demerara were tabled for discussion, in most instances at the behest of King, it was always outvoted. Likewise, financial affairs and “loss of membership”! The “clarion call” always used to be Kings’ perceived allegiance to the government, while serving as PG (ag)!
Until a day like today, why is it King was never included on a sub-committee of the GFF that amounts to 19? This by extension would have been inclusive of a governmental functionary. And by the way how many sub-committees are active?
On a point of edification King’s political ties in no way would affect his election to the GFF executive in contravention of FIFA’s statutes. Since former Prime Ministers of Italy and South Korea, were both FIFA Vice Presidents, with the former being a co-owner of AC Milan, and the latter, President of the Asian Confederation.
In relation Major, is/was anyone else on the Federation’s executive that could have generated more income by way of sponsorship, moreso, collectively for the Golden Jaguars? Also for edification both Major and Muhammad, Directors of the K&S Organization had previously indentified Land on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway, with the relevant paperwork for the Goal Project, many years ago, even before the present site was indentified! And this was also years before Major, became Organising Secretary, but the rest is now history.
With the individual being outnumbered and outvoted on numerous issues from his personal perception for the betterment of the sport, then maybe he should have channeled his energies elsewhere? But he chose to stay and fight, in so doing “mud-slinging, maligning and accusations of corruption” will unfold! Nevertheless, it’s all in the game in pursuit of the GFF’s Presidency, apolitical I guess!
On a pertinent point pertaining to the Guyana Vs Mexico, home match that was shifted to Houston Texas! What role did the GFF, Finance Committee and the Guyana Soccer Foundation play? Maybe, proper investigative journalism should provide the relevant answer along with accusations of corruption.
Finally, Mr. Christopher Matthias, who in my estimation is Rawle’s perceived choice for the GFF’s Presidency! In a vascular bundle what exactly has Matthias and by extension the executive done over the past 2 years, to clearly show that football in Georgetown, has developed?
The concept of “La Liga” as the Premier League was termed was a dismal failure even before it started. Within this context I blame the GFF, since with their authority it should have been spelt out; in bold letters. “COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SPORT”!
On the issue of the restoration of voting rights for Georgetown, of which Matthias was perceived as championing, Sir, didn’t Lumumba, with all due respect, played a meaningful role, upon engaging both FIFA’s and CONCACAF’s attention, with his perception of forming a parallel GFF? Wasn’t it based on that premise that both parties subsequently got involved.
In numerous letters I had written, wasn’t the restoration of voting rights one of my suggestion/recommendations, for both the GFA and UDFA? In the final analysis isn’t personal self-aggrandizement, taking precedence over inclusiveness, with an all-Georgetown slate?
Lester Sealey
Where is the BETTER MANAGEMENT/RENEGOTIATION OF THE OIL CONTRACTS you promised Jagdeo?
Apr 19, 2024
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