This is the final installment of the interview by Stabroek Sports’ Donald Duff of former president of the Georgetown Football Assoc-iation and president of Alpha United Odinga Lumumba on football related issues.
DD: Are you upset with Mr. Klass for not recognizing you, recognizing your executive, when you were president of the GFA?
OL: Well! Put it this way. He recognized my executive eventually. But I am upset at the fact that we had to go through so much turmoil. I think initially he was correct because there was too much confusion in Georgetown before I came on board. But I think when I came on board I brought competitions back, I put things in place. I think the matter should not have reached Trinidad and Harold Taylor. I think we should have been able to work on it, better. But I think there was so much bad blood between the GFA and Colin; I guess he probably saw everybody as (an) enemy.
But I think in time we were able to work past that and even when we were certified by Harold Taylor and then Mr. Warner (Austin) with meetings I think even that took a little time.
But I think now we have a much better relationship. I think sometimes maturity from both sides makes you move forward and we recognized the fact that football should have been the issue.
That’s why I said earlier this is not about personalities. This is not about Klass.
Football does not get the type of support it needs to get from the corporate structure, one is because of accountability. You know what the other factors are.
DD: Can you say why you decided to walk away from football at a time when many felt you were beginning to make a difference?
OL: Tired. I got tired. In the two-and-a-half years I felt I was dying. You got to do everything. Everybody cussing you up. Every body expects everything. You spend your own private money. Nobody doesn’t care about that. No help. You set up committees nobody don’t come to the committee meetings.
Let me tell you something. I take my hat off to Troy (Mendonca) and Marlan (Cole) for trying. Because at the end of the day it don’t look like Troy and Marlon working right now because the GFA still has the same problems. They don’t have no fixtures committee, they aint got this, and it’s not because I think them men don’t know how to run the committees.
DD: You enjoyed a level of support from the government but it does not seem as if this present GFA executive is enjoying the same support.
OL: (Touchily) I don’t think I enjoyed it. The association enjoyed it because none of the money went into my pocket.
DD: Well as president of the GFA you were responsible for getting the government to put money into football which had never happened before and which might never happen again.
OL: Yeah, yeah.
DD: Could you say if the government needs to get behind football more in terms of probably improving the infrastructure?
OL: I agree with you I think there are plans. I think the government is building some Sports Complexes. I know they are building some sports facilities. I think the government has some plans for the bringing together of GFC and GCC. I think the government has just opened up the Providence Stadium to everybody. That’s wonderful.
We now have a facility for all sports including football. So that’s a great step. All steps don’t have to be monetary donations.
DD: Do you see anyway out of this present situation that is engaging the attention of football stakeholders and that football can ultimately benefit one way or the other?
OL: I think what we have to do is step back a little. We have had our problems in this region. When there are inadequate resources you are going to have problems. If I was Colin Klass I would get a broad based committee that goes beyond the GFF to look at the future of football in Guyana.
