Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) presidential hopeful Akanni Blair has lauded the decision of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) to institute a Covid-19 Task Force to oversee the eventual safe resumption of the discipline.
In an exclusive interview with Stabroek Sport, Blair said the move was a step in the right direction.
Blair, when asked if he agrees with the creation of the entity, declared, “Yes! I believe that the Covid-19 pandemic will be around for a very long time but we have to get on with our lives while we co-exist with it. Given the fact the government is actively pursuing a vaccine; I like the idea that the GFF is preempting the government in this regard, if the GFF can institute mandatory testing and institutionalized quarantine for tournaments, which would be ideal.”
The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has officially created a Covid-19 Task Force, whose aim will be to craft protocols and oversee the preparation for the safe resumption of the discipline in the coming months. The federation has also commenced the process of testing locally based national players for the Covid-19 virus, ahead of the possible start of preparation for the World Cup Qualifiers and Gold Cup Playoffs in 2021.
Blair added, “But given the fact that the GFF is limited in its financial capacity, that may be too much of a task. But we can definitely reduce spectatorship by half, standardization of facilities, temperature testing, distribution of masks and hand sanitizing. If protocols are followed we will be able to minimize the spread by some 90%.”
The government’s new Covid-19 measures and guidelines allow for sport events to be staged once approval is sought and granted by the Ministry of Health. The updated measures, which were issued in the Official Gazette on October 30th, took effect on November 1st and will remain in effect until November 30th, unless terminated prior, extended or amended by notice of the Minister of Health after an assessment of the prevailing public health situation.
He conceded that the lack of facilities as well as the nonexistence of insurance for all players during the respective tournaments is a concern. The GFF adopted a national insurance policy at its Ordinary Congress at the SleepIn International Hotel in May 2018. However details of the policy remain unclear.
According to Blair, while the federation does not possess the overall capabilities for the sport to resume immediately, aspiring for its eventual resumption can be achieved through commitment.
He added, “Football is Guyana’s second largest sport and given the present state of its playing facilities it suggests to me that the GFF lacks the capacity at the moment but if the commitment meets the desire, it can be achieved.”
