Despite concluding the Elite League Playoff on January 6th, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has yet to pay the competing clubs their preparation grant that was announced at the launch of the competition, which commenced on December 17th.
This was disclosed by a source close to the tournament, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The GFF had initially, during the official launch at its National Training Centre in Providence, committed to assisting the participating teams with equipment and a financial grant to aid in their preparation for the event, though the amount was not stated.
However, according to the source, “The GFF was supposed to give the teams a $200,000 preparation fee, but they never gave the teams any money. Up to now, the clubs have not received a cent from them, and the clubs had to finance their own preparations for the event despite being promised their money. No one from the GFF has said anything about the money or a timeline for it to be paid.”
The source further said, “Several of the teams have reached out to GFF but are getting no definitive answer as to when this matter will be remedied. It seems like the clubs have to beg to get this matter resolved. It’s been more than a month since the event finished and more than 50 days since the competition was launched.”
Efforts to contact GFF General Secretary Ian Alves for a comment proved futile. Several calls to his cell phone went unanswered up to press time.
The GFF Elite League Promotional Playoff, which was launched on November 23rd, 2023, and commenced on December 17th, featured nine teams from the member associations that emerged victorious in their respective league championships.
Monedderlust of Berbice emerged as the eventual winner to earn an automatic berth in the Elite League, defeating Slingerz FC of West Demerara 1-0 in the final at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue. The West Demerara side eventually defeated Elite League ninth-place finisher Victoria Kings to seal their place in the tournament.
The other participants in the playoff were Buxton Stars (East Coast Demerara), Beacons (Bartica), Tabatinga (Rupununi), Herstelling Raiders (East Bank), Beacons (Georgetown), Dartmouth (Essequibo/Pomeroon), and Winners Connection (Upper Demerara).
