President of the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) Orin Ferrier has declared that it would be financially difficult especially in his jurisdiction, for the sport to resume given the economic setback suffered locally due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
According to Ferrier in exclusive interview with Stabroek Sport yesterday, several important mechanisms would need to be put in place to ensure the safety of the players and support staff if the football was resumed locally.
He noted that while international and club football has resumed in various confederations, locally, infrastructural limitations and the lack of financial assistance from government, present a difficult proposition for the resumption of the sport.
“Because the testing that would be involved for the players and the staff, and the equipment, financially it would not be viable because of the testing that would be involved with the venue,” he declared.
“Even though we look at international organizations resuming sports especially football, they are in a better position to do so and have more support from the government. If we were to get that assistance in collaboration with the GFF, it would help but it would still be very difficult,” he added.
“At least for the rest of this year and this season football might not resume. The current climate with the Covid-19 numbers rising, it’s not going down and if the trend continues with the increase in cases, how can we look to start playing back football. How can we think of that? It would be very difficult for us to predict or arrange to get football playing, especially in West Demerara,” he opined.
Ferrier posited that the guidelines of the GFF must be adhered to during the current health climate, adding that the information which is disseminated to the respective associations is based on the mandate of entities such as Concacaf, FIFA and the government via its National Task Force.
He added, “We have to follow the guidelines by the GFF, if they say that we can’t have any football activities due to the covid-19 guidelines, then we have to follow those rules set by the GFF. We would be happy to do that, we can’t just go against the mandate of the GFF, Concacaf, FIFA and government as well through the National Task Force. They would decide on the best way forward and pass the information to us and the association has to step in line.”
Ferrier also stated that while the financial and structural limitations are a concern locally in comparison to what is occurring internationally, the association is still in the process of formulating plans in anticipation that the green light is eventually given for the resumption of the sport in some form or capacity.
He added, “As an association, we look at and to see what is happening internationally. We are seeing what is occurring with the resumption of club football in England, France, Spain, Italy and Germany and we are trying to prepare ourselves once we get the green light to go. We are putting our systems and structures in place but we cannot do anything until we get the go ahead from the authorities. We are still preparing for if we get the green light.”
