Time to rally behind the nation's footballers
Sports Scope - Our Opinion
Stabroek News
December 20, 2006
The bombshell announcement that the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) is broke is sure to sour whatever "tidings of great cheer" exists among football lovers in this yuletide season.
It also cancels out whatever positives the GFF might have gained from the recent showing of the national football senior team in the Digicel Caribbean Cup football tournament where the team won two preliminary groups and is set to compete in the finals next year in Trinidad and Tobago.
Of course the obvious question to be asked is: "How does a local association which receives an annual grant of US$250,000 from the International Football Federation be in the words of general secretary of the GFF George Rutherford, "virtually penniless."?
Perhaps only the GFF can answer that question and its general secretary did try.
He revealed that for 2006 the GFF spent some $13m on acquiring their own offices and that they spent an undisclosed sum of money on purchasing land on which the GFF plans to construct that long overdue stadium.
The GFF also hosted the Group H leg of the Digicel Caribbean Cup football tournament for which they are to receive a US$20,000 subvention from the Caribbean Football Union. Again, Rutherford did not give the amount of money the GFF spent on hosting the Group H matches.
Rutherford also said that the GFF accounts have been properly audited stating that properly audited accounts are one of the requirements for the release of the FIFA funds.
But still it is difficult to understand how an association can spend US$250,000 per year.
It is even more difficult for the public to get behind the GFF and support the national team by providing sponsorship for a football camp to help the team prepare.
But that is exactly what is needed. It is that time of year when as a nation we should put all our differences behind us and unite behind a common goal. And that goal should be seeing the national football team win the Digicel Caribbean Cup football tournament to be held in Trinidad from January 12-23 next year.
And, in order to achieve such a feat, we do not need a magician as Trinidadian Technical Director Jamaal Shabazz reminded us, we need to have our footballers encamped.
And because the GFF claims to be broke, the onus is now on the business community (upcoming VAT and all) and the government to assist in having the national team prepare properly for the tournament if the Guyana team is to win the Digicel Caribbean Cup or at best qualify for the CONCACAF Gold Cup by placing in the top four.
Shabazz already in the spirit of things and of the times has urged Guyanese to put their differences behind and come out and support the Golden Jaguars.
Shabazz has been unable to land a contract with the GFF but is still committed to helping the national football team.
"This is a time for national unity. The time has come for all those who love sport and have Guyana at heart to come forward and assist," Shabazz told Stabroek Sport in a recent exclusive.
We share his views.
As usual while the locals puzzle over what the GFF has done with the FIFA funds some overseas-based Guyanese have shown what uniting behind a national team really is.
The overseas-based Guyanese led by Miami-based Colin Baker, have already shown the way by setting up a bank account whereby those wishing to help can deposit funds.
The same can be done here. Perhaps a committee can be set up to solicit funds or a television programme such as the Supligen Sports Desk can make available a one-hour programme whereby persons can call in and make donations to assist in raising the necessary funds to prepare the team.
It is time to forget the past, at least for the moment and rally behind the nation's footballers.