President of the Guyana Football Federation Colin Klass made a startling revelation at a press conference last week.

Klass said that to the best of his knowledge the government of Guyana did not assist the pride-bringing national Under-23 team in their preparation for the Olympic Qualifier. That did not come as a shocker.

However, Klass added that after beating Barbados 4-1 here and the subsequent historic qualification for the next round of the competition, not even a word of congratulations was received from the government.

Now that came as a shocker and one that GPL would be proud of. Hadn’t the disclosure come from someone in such high office many would have taken it for a joke. It still sounds very much like a joke.

If Klass’s announcement is true (and we have reason to believe it is) then it puts the government, mainly the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport in an awkward position.

How much would it take to scribble a few words of praise to 18 youths who have trained morning and evening with the sole intention of making this nation proud?

Another question begging an answer is how could our leaders be so callous to a certain section of the sporting fraternity? Could something like this ever happen in cricket? We guess not.

Does the government have a problem with football or with the executive of GFF? If it is the latter, then no way should the `Jackie Chans’, `Zarros’, `Bubblelys’ and `Crouching Tigers’ be forced to pay.

One wonders if the stadium fiasco which occurred two years ago has anything to do with the long spoon that it seems the government has now reserved for the feeding of football.

Klass labelled the whole issue unfortunate and disappointing and by all means it is but it is not too late for the party fingered to make amends by doing the right thing. A few words can make a big difference.