The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has warned its regional member associations and affiliates not to participate in unsanctioned events, following the announcement of the Annual Mayor’s Cup nine-a-side Inter Ward/Village knockout football tournament, which is scheduled to start on March 27th.
This was disclosed by an official release from the federation. According to the correspondence, which was signed by General Secretary, Ian Alves, “Members are hereby informed that this intended tournament is not sanctioned by the GFF neither was approval granted for the conduct of same. Consequently, the GFF uses this opportunity to remind all of its affiliated bodies of Article 13: h of the GFF Constitution, which obligates Registered Players and Officials ‘not to maintain any relations of a sporting nature with entities (e.g. clubs, Leagues) that are not Members or Affiliates nor with Members that have been suspended or expelled’.”
The release added, “Please therefore advise all of your members that non-adherence to Article 13: h (e.g. participation in the tournament named in paragraph 1) could lead to sanctions being applied to the guilty party.”
However, Lennox Arthur, coordinator of the competition during an invited comment, stated, “We wrote them already, they have not told us we can’t play and they have not written to us to say that so I don’t know why they should do something like that. We wrote about this. Unless they feel we started today [yesterday], but it’s in March and we have written them on it, and they haven’t responded back.”
The other playing dates are April 3rd, 9th, 10th and 17th. Winner of the event will receive $600,000, with the second, third and fourth place finishers receiving $300,000, $200,000 and $100,000.
Among the major sponsors of the event include Mid Atlantic Oil and Gas Company, IPA, DDL, Digicel, Johil, John Fernandes, General Equipment, Busta, GTT, Namilco, Macorp, New Thriving, Sattar Gafoor, B. Megan, Pritipaul Singh, Ready Mix, Eddie Bobcat, Silvie’s, Caribbean Containers, E Networks, Super Bet, Cummings Electrical, China Trading, Dave Lumber yard and Schlumberger.
