Dear Editor,
Even as I seek to refrain from having to respond to the seemingly endless criticism surrounding the Guyana Football Federation and its incumbent President Mr Christopher Matthias, I now feel compelled to respond because much of the criticism borders on a misrepresentation of the facts as these relate to football and its development and what has occurred over the years.
Much of the unwarranted criticism has occurred because the President has chosen to adjust the sails of the federation and chart a new course. Editor, Guyana’s football is currently in a debt quagmire amounting to millions and millions, with the GFA and the GFF alone owing in excess of sixty-five million dollars to creditors. There is no justifiable reason why football should be administered in such a manner. We cannot continue to use FIFA’s monies to plug a leaking non-functioning ship – the GFF; at some point in time there must be prudence and fiscal responsibility in relation to FIFA’s financial resources.
Over the years there has been a neglect of players’ development, coaches’ development and playing facilities. In a document titled, ‘US Youth Soccer,’ prepared by the US Youth Soccer Coaching Education Department, there is reference to a ‘Players Development Model.’ It says, “A Club must have a model for the development of all players. The core for planned development is a sound curriculum. True player development occurs when each player’s daily training and playing environment is of the highest quality.”
Chapter Two of this document notes the need for ‘Facilities Development.’ Its states, “The best coaches in the world cannot fully develop players without the right training environment.” Quality coaching and facilities will contribute positively to player development, since player development is the backbone of the game, while the construction of training grounds is a necessity.
I just ask the people of Guyana to look around their associations, their clubs, and their schools and just be honest with their assessments.
If our system is broken, collectively we can fix it, but as with everything else in my dear land, we just seem hell bent on destroying each other rather than addressing the issue.
Isn’t it time Guyana had its own soccer stadium, a soccer resource centre, a properly constructed federation headquarters, which could hold all the representatives of the various associations? What about the rehabilitation of grounds at Camptown, Conquerors, the Parade Ground where some first division games were played during the glorious days of soccer in Guyana, and where men played for pride of Club?
We can all agree to disagree, but at some point in time the players must be the beneficiaries of it all and at some point in time all the administrators of the game must put their hands to the wheel and get to work.
Yours faithfully,
Daniel Thomas
