Guyana football never witnessed this transformation

Dear Editor

FOR the past three weeks Mr. Rawle Welch has found it fitting to author four letters to the press. In each letter he attempts to sensationalise his opinions as to the shortcomings of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), including the recent GFF Awards Dinner and Ceremony which was last held three years ago. Can you believe that? Even efforts to recognise and award a number of local players and partners for their dedication and performance is a platform for the hired pen of Rawle Welch, to launch baseless attacks on Guyanaís football development programme. For example on April 25, 2018 the Stabroek News published a letter authored by Mr. Welch, captioned ìThe GFF leadership has failed.î Interestingly, an analysis of the content and language of Mr. Welchís diatribes suggest that bitter rhetoric, opinionated criticisms and personal disputes are now measures of performance assessments. Why would someone who has publicly endorsed the current GFF administration suddenly turn around and in a matter of three weeks, pen four letters attacking the GFFís performance and that of Guyanaís football programme? What many readers may not be aware of, is that ever since Mr. Welch, the former sports journalist turned street football organiser and promoter joined the ranks of a tournament hustler, his opinion seems to be grotesquely tainted by financial interests and less about upholding the integrity of the sport and well-being of our elite players. I can point to several instances between 2016-2017 that Mr. Welch wrote favourably of the turnaround in local football development and leadership.

Take for example an article written by Mr. Welch in the Kaieteur News dated June 7, 2017 under the caption, ìJunior Jags performance must assuage fears of major stakeholders.î Mr. Welch wrote, ìThe Junior Jaguars recent historic performance at the Soualiga Football Tournament which was held in St. Martin must assuage the fears of major stakeholders, such as the corporate community and the Government. Those fears which had arisen from years of unwarranted attacks by forces aimed at destabilising the football fraternity are slowly, but surely being removed by the current administration led by President Wayne Forde. The Forde-led administration has successfully been able to remain focused on the sportís holistic development and not be swayed by the diversionary tactics of a few whose attempts to incessantly taint the image of the sport are losing credibility. The inclusive approach by the current administration which affords the General Council and other related arms of the entity to function independently and work for the benefit of the game and its participants, is a dispensation that was estranged to the persecutors of the sport. The task of managing this sport has time and again proven to be onerous and unappreciated, but Forde and his team have dug in their heels and seem hell bent on working assiduously to reverse the fortunes and image of the sport here.î
These are glowing remarks from someone who, in less than one year after penning them, have seemingly allowed other motives with corporate interests to supersede standards of fairness, ethical standards, accountability and evidence-based assessment in managing the business and technical development of local football. What is also alarming, surprising and very disappointing is the fact that there is no light between Mr. Welchís profit driven agenda and a football promotion group he spent the better part of his sports journalist career chastising. Mr. Welch has now relegated himself to a common street hustler, armed with a pen. His plan is to use his access to the print press to malign the GFF and influence public opinion. Why? It appears that Mr. Welch thinks that his tournament should be given preferential treatment, irrespective of the physical and security risks to Guyanaís elite players and the ethical position taken by the GFF and FIFA, that no one company or organiser has a monopoly on third party organised football tournaments.
His reasoning and assessment seems to be further tainted perhaps, by his financial returns from the Guinness Greatest of the Street tournament, and doing the bidding of his promotion team and corporate allies. It appears that he inter alia, would like to take us back to those dark days of local football when greed, personal interests intertwined with corporate agendas nearly resulted in FIFA disaffiliating Guyana from its membership. Examining the local football development activities and visits to Guyana by the FIFA and CONCACAF presidents over the past two years, it seems to me that the GFF is committed to the well-being of its regional member associations, players, coaches, referees, technical development team and administrators first, above business practices that seek to profit a few while undermining football development. Contrary to Mr. Welchís agonising howling in the wilderness, Guyana has never witnessed the transformational football development strategy being implemented by the Wayne Forde-led administration. The following are some of the development strategies and programmes currently being supported and delivered: A nationwide grassroots development programme supported by a Brand partner; A nationwide U15 Boys League supported by a Brand partner; A nationwide U17 Boys League supported by a Brand partner; Introduction of the Nationís first academy programme with 13 academy training centres (ATC) spread across Guyana and supported by a Brand partner; The nationís first female development academy where the best young girls are coached on a weekly basis; A network of 36 fulltime employed licensed coaches working within the ACT; Winning Guyanaís first-ever Regional Youth Tournament; building Guyanaís first National Training Centre after 30 years of failed attempts; Introducing structured football development programmes throughout the hinterland communities; Breaking continental barriers by taking the Golden Jaguars to Indonesia; Registering one of the best showing at the 2017 CONCACAF U15 Boys Championship.
In closing, I am suggesting that Mr. Welch consult the GFF 2016/17 activity report in the future.

Regards
Mike Archer

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