– says Colin Klass
President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Colin Klass (CK) recently sat down and spoke exclusively with Stabroek Sports’ Rawle Toney (RT) about his satisfactions and certain misconceptions relating to football in Guyana.
Of course they were several issues raised which the GFF boss chose to speak off the record but those which he spoke on record will be shared with readers.
Following is the interview:
RT: Mr. Klass, everyone knows that the GFF has over the years been benefiting from an annual subvention from the sport’s world governing body, FIFA, and I’m sure people would like to know if you wish, how these funds were spent.
CK: I think this is projected to be a very difficult year, much more than some of the others because of the National League, the emphasis on Women’s football and its development, our attempt to make the headquarters a little more habitable and then a reduction in sponsorship from a number of our affiliates, it would really have a significant impact on the GFF’s finances.
In terms of football, FIFA is assisting yes, but it was never meant that FIFA would take it lock, stock and barrel; everyone else needs to contribute. FIFA came on board to assist and to facilitate this process but there is no way that we could have developed football at a World Cup level with the monies provided by FIFA.
One team as you know would utilize one year of funds if you really are to adequately prepare, meaning the right staffing and the right equipment so we are still in an amateur, preparatory state and not in the professional league because as I said, finances are still scarce.
Like this four-way tournament coming up with our women and the USA and Suriname. This is already projecting to cost in the vicinity of US$40,000. Now that is one tournament for four days and the federation still has to manage football for one calendar year.
It’s good to say you’re getting this and when you multiply it by Guyana dollars it seems a lot but it’s nothing really but we are really trying to manage the resources available. We are grateful for it and we are thankful for the sponsors who are with us, like Church’s Chicken, they have really been supportive, the contribution made by Digicel and as I said Banks DIH, they are the significant ones who have contributed.
RT: Coming out of a busy year and with 2010 projected to be busier, how have you been able to prioritise the competitions entered looking at your finances?
CK: There are a few outstanding agreements in Central America which are available to us and we are trying to utilise those at minimal financing as possible because the executives have agreed that the junior tournaments are very essential for development so we need to participate in them.
The Women’s World Cup is a new initiative. We have never participated in that before but again these are a new breed of women who are involved in Guyana’s football and we want to ensure that we provide the opportunity and they are saying to us that given the opportunity, they know that they will make Guyana proud.
Each step you make in a World Cup, it demands more financing so the showcasing of those women here in Guyana next week, we are trusting that it will make an impact on corporate Guyana.
RT: Guyana won its first international tournament in Suriname and many believed that the Government of Guyana through the Sports Ministry has had cold feet as it relates to its recognition of the team’s performance. Since then, what has the relationship been between the GFF and the Government?
CK: Again, I wouldn’t really call it cold feet because since that incident it seems that there were some problems with the communication process but since then a meeting was held by the Sports Minister (Dr. Frank Anthony) with the sporting bodies and there is an agreement where the minister would facilitate a meeting with each sporting body every Friday which means a communication line has been established.
Now we intend to use that communication line to ensure that the correct information and the accurate facts about football are given to him and I think once the facts are given and the misconception is removed, the whole relationship will take a new turn because we are anticipating a good relationship because we said to him we are going to provide whatever is necessary towards making this thing work.
It is impossible for any association in any part of the world to operate independent of Government’s contribution.
RT: Can you give us an update on the FIFA Goal Project and would you say we’re a bit far behind as compared to a number of our other Caribbean countries?
CK: That basically right now is in the hands of FIFA. They requested recently a three-page item be corrected and that was corrected and sent back to them so it’s between them and the contractor. I know the contractor has already started to do a number of mobilizations on the site and payments for that is directly to the contractor not the GFF then to the contractor.
So we have established that link with the two parties, so it’s approved and it’s just a matter of having those little things done.
The projection for this phase is four to six months, weather permitting and so on and FIFA has gone to goal three and we are only in goal so there’s lots of scope but I believe once we get started the others will follow because now we know what to do and so on.
And yes! I think we are behind. You see, a lot of countries are enjoying the benefits of their Goal Project but in terms of the Caribbean, a number of them have been having difficulties one way or the other but I think the main thing we are happy it is here, we have started and once we’ve started the rest will follow.
RT: You have completed the pilot phase of your WIN IN CONCACAF WITH CONCACAF project with the completion of the National and Women’s League, do you think it was successful?
CK: We believe that this is going to go a far way towards lifting the standard of football in Guyana and in addition to that, enhance and impact directly on its development since this programme is not only being run at the senior level but at the same time we were able to also kick off our female national league which was also completed successfully. The junior part of our programme will commence in January of 2010; it should have started this month but the calendar is too crowded for us to attempt to do so.
So I think all in all it was a resounding success, because we only had one month to plan this programme so I would really like to thank all those persons who have contributed, especially Banks DIH who came onboard and stuck with us throughout this entire process and their contribution is invaluable.
RT: But initially, it was said that the programme was geared to bring the corporate society closer to the game and also help Guyana to be more competitive on the international stage with some of the local players having more matches; do you think that it has reached this objective and other projections the programme had before it started?
CK: I don’t. It’s just brought corporate Guyana into football. This whole process is in order to unite all the stakeholders including Government, corporate Guyana, spectators – because it’s a united programme. Now FIFA basically has launched the programme with the hope yes, that all the stakeholders come onboard.
But I think the thing about Guyana is that a number of persons like this ‘wait and see’ kind of approach. Investment is something you have to have faith in the process but I believe in terms of the fact that Banks DIH Limited have come onboard, I think it’s a significant breakthrough because they came with a vision where you can see spectators returning to the sport and I trust that corporate Guyana could join them because our ultimate goal is to have a professional league in Guyana.
