Latest update April 23rd, 2024 12:59 AM
Feb 02, 2017 Sports
By Rawle Welch
“Either get with the programme or they can go” were the words of White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer in response to actions taken by US Diplomats, who expressed disapproval to the executive order banning immigration from seven countries which was signed by President Donald Trump recently.
While the quote is not in allusion to the area under discussion, the declaration by Spicer is fittingly applicable to the current scenario in football in Guyana.
Ever since former Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President Colin Klass received a 26-month ban by FIFA for his involvement in the ‘cash for votes’ scandal in 2011, Guyana’s football landscape has been in constant paralysis due to conflicts and attempts by some to disrupt the flow to improve the image and development of the sport.
There are many examples of attempted sabotage by known characters, who believe that it is either their way or no way.
Their actions were clear to see when every strategy in the book was utilised to undermine the Presidency of Christopher Matthias, during his term in office which came to a swift end following the intervention of FIFA / CONCACAF.
The two governing Bodies involvement became necessary owing to the persistent embarrassing situations that the sport was plunged into as a result of the central characters destabilising influence among clubs and administrators whose primary focus was not about playing football, but more to do with the attainment of power.
The consequence as we know was the removal of Matthias and the installation of a Normalisation Committee (NC) in 2014 headed by businessman Clinton Urling.
While it cannot be argued that the sport enjoyed some amount of stability under the NC, the widespread perception was that the leading players in the destabilisation process that preceded Urling’s ascension to the throne of local football benefitted during his tenure so there was understandable calm.
However, after his term came to an end, the ugliness in the sport resurfaced with the attempt to disrupt the Stag Elite League, coming as a stark reminder of ‘our way or no way’ scenario quickly re-emerging.
This time, though, there was no support from either FIFA / CONCACAF, who unmistakably reminded all that the GFF is the sole governing body of the sport here and who has their full backing.
President of the GFF Wayne Forde and his executive has done a marvelous job in restoring the good image of the sport and while the corporate sector continues to be cautious with their support, no one could fault their concerted attempt to get the on-field activity up and running on a consistent basis.
As documented in another section of the media (Stabroek News) on January 1, 2017, there were activities conducted in every month of the year so immediately any charge of apathy or an uncaring posture was annulled.
Nevertheless, the carping continued and the next shot was the inclusion of two teams to the League, a request which was made by Platinum sponsor, Ansa McAl and subsequently acquiesced to by the GFF.
This decision, even though the intention was explained repeatedly by the GFF, did not find favour with four of the top clubs in the country, namely, Slingerz FC, Alpha United, Pele and Georgetown Football Club (GFC) and they decided to withdraw from the League.
What followed were correspondences being dispatched back and forth by both parties (GFF and aggrieved clubs) for CONCACAF’s intervention and guidance.
In the end, CONCACAF ruled that because the clubs withdrew from the country’s premier competition, they were “not in ‘good standing” with the GFF.
It was a clear case of selfishness on the part of the clubs hierarchy and counselors, but more importantly, it reflected how far they are prepared to go, to sacrifice players on that altar.
The connected effect was that the two clubs (Slingerz FC and Alpha United) were deemed ineligible to represent Guyana at the CONCACAF Club Championship, while there has been an exodus of players from those clubs ever since.
Sadly, it was a heavy price to pay, but more importantly, it once again exposed the real detractors in the sport.
LISTEN HOW JAGDEO WILL MAKE ALL GUYANESE RICH!!!
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