IMC doing "very little" to run Georgetown Football League
- senior football official
By Steve Ninvalle
Stabroek News
March 15, 2003
A senior football official is questioning the commitment of the Interim Management Committee set up late last year to run the affairs of football in the Georgetown Football League.
The committee has done "very little" since coming to office, the official declared and he wondered if the members have forgotten the purpose of their being elected.
"They have done little or nothing in the almost six months there and one wonders the reason for them being around. Football in Georgetown has gone no where and the future doesn't look too bright under the guidance of those elected," the official told Stabroek Sport.
He charged that no sense of clairvoyance prevailed in the IMC but contended that myopia was rampant. There has been no real effort to devise even a one-month plan," he stressed.
The official added: "There is a lot of individualism in the IMC. It is not a committee anymore," the official who wished anonymity," stated. "Bureaucracy has taken over the house."
In addition an internal audit of the GFL books was forced on the ropes because of the lack of several documents. According to the official the Guyana Football Federation has secured an office for the IMC but to date the keys have not been uplifted.
The official argued that in view of the present state of football in the Garden City, sponsors and potential sponsors are turning away from the sport.
"Since the discovery of the fraud many sponsors have turned away. And with the attitude of the IMC many more have downed arms," the official said.
When contacted chairman of the IMC Dr. George Norton said that the lack of finance is the number one reason why the IMC appeared inactive.
He claimed that it has affected the committee to the point where members were suggesting that they resign en bloc.
"We got on board because we wanted to move football forward but it is very difficult since we are cash strapped. Our members had to go into their own pocket to honour debts that the executive of the GFL incurred," Norton said.
He contended that throughout the life of the IMC the GFF had offered little or no assistance. "They (the GFF) too have claimed that they are cash strapped," Norton declared.
He scoffed at the claim that the keys to the office were not uplifted from the GFF stating that it was the governing body for football in the country that was attempting to frustrate the IMC.
"Two weeks ago we had a meeting and it was held at the GFC pavilion. In fact all our meetings were held there. If we had our office we would have held it there," Norton explained.
"We have been promised keys to the office but none were handed over. I see it as a direct attempt by the GFF to frustrate the IMC. Also we never received the stipend (from GFF) that was earmarked for the running of the office," Norton added.
Efforts to get a comment from GFF General Secretary George Rutherford proved futile.
The IMC came to life in August of last year after the general council of the GFL turned in a vote of no confidence against the executive headed by Christopher Matthias.
The general council was irate after it was alleged that approximately $500,000 was missing from the GFL's coffers. Then treasurer Daune Campbell was fingered in the alleged misappropriation of the funds but has vehemently denied the allegation.
From the inception Campbell had vowed to clear her name but to date has failed to come good on her promise. The police was also called in but the investigation has been moving at snail's pace.
