FOLLOWING is a statement by the president of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Colin Klass on the controversy and/or confusion over the proposed FIFA-funded stadium for Guyana:

THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) regrets any controversy and/or confusion over the proposed FIFA-funded stadium for Guyana, and we wish to set the record straight in respect of GFF’s understanding of the project. I have searched my own mind, researched our files including newspaper reports and consulted with my colleagues in an attempt to determine the basis for the perception that FIFA had committed US$20 million to Guyana for the building of a stadium.

Our records reveal that the sum of US$20 million was an indicative cost for the construction of a Sports Stadium and was never intended as a cost to be borne solely by FIFA.

At no time did I, or the GFF, feel that Guyana would be the recipient of US$20 miilion from FIFA. We were never promised this sum by anyone, be it Jack Warner or Sepp Blatter. And we have nothing to correct officially since none of our reports ever stated that Guyana would get US$20 million from FIFA, nor did it surface in any of our interactions with other stakeholders.

I suspect that some of the confusion came from media reports on this project. I recall that when the project was announced US$100 million was earmarked to help needy FIFA affiliates to build football facilities. This scheme was christened GOAL. Five Caribbean countries including Guyana were among the beneficiaries.

Somehow in the reporting, the US$100 million was inaccurately designated as being exclusively for the use of five (5) Caribbean countries and your own maths would seem to suggest that US$20 million was earmarked for Guyana.

The Stabroek News of September 21, 1999, reporting on Mr Warner’s press conference quoted him as saying in relation to the quantum of money Guyana would get from FIFA: ”I cannot say what it will be but it will surely be more than $1 million (US)”. The fact is that $20 million was never earmarked by FIFA for Guyana or any other country for that matter.

The fact of the matter is that FIFA has committed US$1 million to Guyana from its GOAL project funds for the construction of a football facility or stadium and I repeat, a football facility or stadium, the total cost of which is to be determined.

This is still the position as was reiterated by both President Blatter and Mr Warner at their recent press conference in Guyana. The US$1 million for Guyana is no hoax; it is real. FIFA’s commitment is US$1 million to be released in two tranches of US$400 000 (earmarked to be spent during the first quarter of 2002) and $600 000 in 2003. The second disbursement of US$600 000 will have to be re-approved at FIFA’s Congress in June 2002 since it was budgeted to be spent during the term of the current FIFA executive.

Part of the problem that has surfaced seems also to have been one of definition. The facility to be funded by FIFA has to be seen as being the nucleus of a multipurpose stadium and this would unquestionably be a vast improvement on any football facility that currently exists in Guyana.

The Minister of Sport and Mr Warner interacted with each other directly. The Hon. Minister has indicated that Mr Warner mooted the figure of US$20 million when he met her and the NSC. No member of the GFF executive was present at that exchange. The arrangement for the architect to visit Guyana to determine the most suitable site for the Project was made between the Minister and Mr Warner.

The Minister was so enthused with the Project that she wrote to the private sector soliciting their involvement. We all laud the Minister’s enthusiasm and every sport-loving Guyanese should.

With FIFA’s commitment of US$1 million, this is a project that Guyanese should embrace. US$1 million, even in the best of times, is not a sum to be trifled with. It is the equivalent of G$190 million. I ask you: which other sports discipline or sports organisation in Guyana has been able to attract this kind of assistance for Guyana from their international body?

The GFFhas just yesterday received a faxed communication from the Trinidad-based FIFA Development Officer Keith Lok Loy who has responsibility for administering the GOAL Project. The communication reiterated FIFA’s commitment to the Project and requested from the GFF the following documentation for Phase 1 that is scheduled to begin early next year:

· Evidence of land ownership or extended lease

· Technical drawings of the facility

· Quotations from at least three construction companies

· An estimate of the cost of operating and maintaining the facility once it is completed.

This first phase of the Project which will cost US$400 000 is expected to include an international size football playing field, dressing rooms for teams, referees’ rooms, a medical center, a dormitory to accommodate at least one team and a grandstand to seat approximately 5 000 persons. The second phase which will cost US$600 000 will expand the existing facilities and enhance the stadium’s international image.

The agreement reached for the long-term lease of the proposed site at the University of Guyana should be respected. Government, and particularly President Jagdeo, and the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport have been very supportive of local football and I have every reason to believe that they will continue to be. It is said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. What we propose to do with FIFA’s generous assistance is to take the first step. Let us therefore move forward together.

With respect to the issue of FIFA’s disbursement to the GFF of US$250 000, this information is not new as it has been in the public domain since 1999 when FIFA announced that all its affiliates will receive US$I million over a four-year period to assist in their football administration and development programmes. This matter was featured in the GFF Financial Report to the last AGM and was given extensive coverage in the print media. It should also be stressed that expenditure from this Grant must conform to FIFA guidelines and is subject to their audit and approval.

It should be recalled that earlier this year FIFA conducted an international audit of the GFF’s use of this Grant and I am happy to report that, except for a few minor queries, for which clarifications have been submitted, FIFA is quite satisfied with our stewardship in respect of the utilisation and accountability of the resources they provided to the GFF.

It is through this Grant, for example, that the GFF was able to recruit a Technical Director and other full-time staff; acquire offices for use by Headquarters staff and staff of Sub-Associations; encamp national teams and host regional tournaments.

You will be interested to learn that we are on the verge of appointing a new Technical Director. The choice has been narrowed to two experienced Brazilians and we hope to be able to make a decision on the candidate before year-end.

The GFF’s record of transparency and its commitment to the development of football in Guyana and the Region can be defended at any time.