Follow Ferreira-James’ example - Klass
By Steve Ninvalle
Stabroek News
September 4, 2002
President of the Guyana Football Federation Colin Klass is urging the nation’s footballers to take a leaf out of the book of referee Dianne Ferreira-James.
Klass made the call at a ceremony held at the GFF headquarters yesterday to welcome the history-making referee back home.
“This is a cue for the players to follow. It is clear that once you are committed and dedicated the sky is the limit. They (players) need to get on board since the bus is moving,” Klass declared.
“Dianne is on board, the officials are on board and we need the players to come on board,” said Klass, who was the match commissioner of the June World Cup quarterfinal match between Brazil and England.
Ferreira-James, who is of Amerindian descent, became the first woman from the Caribbean Football Union to referee in a World Cup final when she carried the whistle in the match between host Canada and the United States on Sunday.
“We are very, very proud of Dianne. Guyana is proud of you and CONCACAF is proud of you. We can now lift our heads and rejoice. We hope that whatever you have learnt will be passed on,” the GFF president stated.
The head of local football claimed that Ferreira-James’ appointment is just the beginning of positive things that will embrace Guyana’s football. “We always knew that she had the potential but things have now started to unveil. The junior World Cup is just the beginning and if she persists in commitment, dedication and discipline then in the not too distant future I see her officiating in the senior World Cup.”
“The sky is a place that is reachable for Guyana. We have been failing in terms of our football performance but there has been no failure in terms of our referees and administrators,” Klass said. Ferreira-James was presented with a gold medal at the conclusion of the final which she had on display yesterday, prompting Klass to declare Guyana had won a medal at football.
“We know that Aliann Pompey brought back a medal from the Commonwealth Games. We can safely say that Dianne has earned a gold medal in football for Guyana.”
Klass and other members of the GFF executive and the Guyana Football Referees Council were on hand Mon-day night at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport to welcome Ferreira-James home.