Substantial Government funding for football squad unlikely
-GFF yet to approach Ministry
By Lloyda Nicholas
Stabroek News
December 21, 2006
Government most likely will not be able to provide any substantial support for the Guyana National Football squad's preparation for the final leg of the Digicel Caribbean Cup.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony in an interview with Stabroek Sport yesterday said that his Ministry is yet to be approached by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and even if they are approached now, support would be difficult since they have expended all of their funds for the year and have already submitted next year's budget.
"We have exhausted our financial resources for the year and this has not been catered for in next year's budget", the Minister said. He bemoaned the fact that many Associations wait until they are in a tight situation, with players and athletes about to travel before they approach the Ministry.
Minister Anthony said that in this case his Ministry met with the GFF executives two months ago and only asked for blazers for the national team, airport tax exemptions which he said came up to a significant sum and the use of the National Sport Commission's bus during the Guyana leg of the Digicel Caribbean Cup.
With the exception of the latter, the Minister said all the other requests were met.
According to the Minister no mention was made of the GFF's financial situation during that meeting.
"Government has processes. It is not a case where we can just take out money. We have to know up front", he said
The Sport Minister added that associations, when it is convenient to them, say that Government should not be involved in the management of the various sport associations.
However, when they have a shortfall they come to Government for funds. Minister Anthony said, "This leaves us in a difficult position because we are then asked to support things that we don't fully understand."
He added that it would be good to have access to the audited reports of Associations before they plug monies into their activities.
Notably, the National Sport Commission has this requirement in place but it has not been strictly implemented. However, the Minister said that this will be stringently enforced next year.
He said that there has to be a way for them to work out a way for Government to be comfortable with the resources that they put in.
Additionally, Minister Anthony said that when you look at the $20,000,000 figure that the GFF has quoted to the press one has to consider if all that they have planned his realistic.
He said, "People have to be aware of the available resources and work within those means."
The Minister was also concerned about the fact that these issues were ventilated in the media before his Ministry was approached.
He said that it seems that there is a public discussion going on about the issue and yet the GFF has not approached his office as yet.
In an earlier interview, secretary of the GFF George Rutherford said that the association was currently drafting a letter to the Ministry.
Meanwhile, Stabroek Sport is in receipt of a copy of a letter addressed to President of the GFF Colin Klass from President of the Georgetown Football League (GFL) Odinga Lumumba which states, "The Georgetown Football League would like to work towards hosting two international football games for the Guyana team as part of its preparations for the Digicel Finals."
The letter stated that the condition for this would be that the "President of GFL granted authority by the GFF to coordinate a committee for a national fund raising drive to raise funds for the football development in Guyana, including recruitment of national teams for international competition."
When Stabroek Sport contacted Lumumba by telephone yesterday, he said that so far the GFF head has not replied to his correspondence.
He added that this is his second overture to the GFF to participate in fund raising activities and the first was turned down since he was told that was not needed at that time.
However, Lumumba said that he is still optimistic that even at this stage funds can be raised for the adequate preparation and participation of the national squad in the Digicel Caribbean Cup Finals. He added that the Guyanese public is willing to support the team and it just has to be marketed properly. Lumumba said that the GFF has planned an executive meeting for next Saturday.