President of Net Rockers Football Club Jermaine Figuiera has thrown his hat into the ring in the race to become president of the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA).
The UDFA’s election is scheduled for some time this month.
So far incumbent Sharma Solomon, Figuiera and overseas-based Guyanese Garth Nelson are known to be contesting the presidency of the UDFA.
Figuiera, a teacher at the New Silver City School, Wismar, said given the opportunity he will ensure that football in the region will be developed and that he said has to start with the restructuring of the UDFA.
“At present there are first, second and third vice president posts which have no detailed responsibilities outlined. I would institute the initiative of Christopher Matthias which was adopted by GFA (Georgetown Football Association) which is to have a vice president of administration, a vice president of competition and a vice president of technical and tactical development,” he declared.
He said attaching specific roles/responsibilities to the positions will make it easier for the clubs, players and others interested to seek out information and provide assistance where and when needed.
“It is imperative that the involvement of all primary stakeholders is instituted in piloting the structure and system to be executed for the association.
“I believe it is imperative that the UDFA play a more involved role in working collaboratively with the department of education to develop a programme that would see more properly structured and competitive football at the school level,” he said.
Clubs with a difficulty of attracting youth players to form a second string team should he encouraged to adopt school teams while working a programme that satisfies the requirements of the association and the education ministry.
“The promotion of school football will, in the near future, contribute significantly to lifting the standard of the sport on and off the pitch. “The smarter players we have the better the football will be. Top XX FC to date has the most successful reign in the Kashif and Shanghai tournament, not primarily because of the players’ skills but because most of the players were high school students. Collie Hercules, arguably the best striker Guyana has produced, went to one of the leading high schools in the country,” he posited.
Figuiera said that marketing the brand of football promoted by the association has the potential to attract sponsors while giving its players the opportunity to be scouted locally and internationally.
He also said that while he respects incumbent Sharma Solomon, it is his belief that Solomon as Regional Chairman will not be able to give his all to the development of the sport in Region 10. According to him the business of the region should be Solomon’s primary focus.
“Mr. Solomon quite frankly should not be viewed as the Regional Chairman running for the presidency of the UDFA but as an executive for many years on the UDFA who has not done much for the enhancement of the sport. “Nothing he can say or propose to do can obfuscate this fact. His new found influence should be used to lend support in some degree to the executive of the association whoever they are,” Figuiera said.
“The association needs someone who has the time, the know how, the vision and the sustainable wiliness to work collaboratively with all stakeholders and individuals with the desire and interest to take the sport to a higher level,” he said.
