Dear Editor:
The Government of Guyana (GOG) and the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) have both shared their optimism of Guyana’s Golden Jaguars reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals to be hosted in North America. This shared vision is very encouraging but the posture of the administrators of both the GOG and GFF gives a far different impression.
During last week, the Government provided funding for the National squad to travel to Trinidad and Tobago for two friendlies and this announcement was made known to the public when the players and team officials visited the Arthur Chung Convention Centre and had a photo op with Prime Minister (Ret’d) Brigadier Mark Phillips, Sports Minister Charles Ramson Jnr. and other senior sports functionaries during a sitting of the National Assembly. What was noticeable was the absence of the GFF President Wayne Forde who is not shy of being in the media or any senior functionary of the Federation at that event. The GFF President was also not present when President Irfaan Ali hosted the national team at the completion of the Golden Jaguars participation in the Concacaf Gold Cup.
This situation gives credence to any levelheaded person asking, is there a disconnect or does each party has its own vision of making the vision possible? The challenges are stacked thick against the national team’s preparation in their World Cup qualifiers with no venue to host their home matches, limited funding but the most compelling challenge seemed to be a collective effort on the part of the government and the GFF to work together. Additionally, why was there no determined effort to bring the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora up to international standard eight months after the Guyana/Bahamas debacle that caused the GFF to be sanctioned by Concacaf and Guyana’s remaining home matches to be played at other venues across the region.
It would have been ideal for a collaborative effort to enhance the National Training Centre at Providence, East Bank to minimum standards to play international matches during Guyana’s home games against Panama, Belize, Nicaragua and Montserrat during next month in the first round of the preliminary qualifiers. Also where is corporate Guyana in showing support to the Golden Jaguars’ World Cup quest achieved hitherto by Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica for Caribbean teams?
While no concerted efforts have been done to remedy the venue situation, in contrast, the Nassau County in the United States has fast tracked the construction of the 34,000 capacity stadium, even importing an entire playing surface with supporting spectator accommodation in time for T20 World Cup event to be hosted in the Caribbean and North America next month.
With 2026 FIFA World Cup hosts and regional powerhouses Canada, Mexico and United States automatic qualifiers, there are three slots available which gives Guyana a great opportunity to qualify but not under the current conditions. Maybe the Government and the GFF will soon come forward and outline their joint effort to make Guyana’s World Cup finals bid a genuine reality.
Sincerely,
(Name and Address Withheld)