……..GFF plans to seek Government’s help
THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has reached a financial crisis of the magnitude never envisioned or planned for.
At a Media briefing held at the GFF’s Boardroom yesterday, President Colin Klass disclosed that approximately half-million US dollars is needed to offset the expenditure for preparing and equipping the four teams that have advanced to the next stage of their respective tournaments. For the first time in the history of Guyana’s football there are four National teams on their way to qualifying for the finals of the various competitions.
The senior ballers have progressed to the Digicel Caribbean Cup semi-finals group play to be staged in T&T early in November, the U-17’s are into the semis of the CFU-World Cup group competition set for Santo Domingo in early December and a chance of advancing to the CONCACAF finals, the U-20’s will also contest a four-team group competition in January for the final CFU spot in the CONCACAF-World Cup finals set for Guatemala next year  and the women will contest the CONCACAF Gold Cup in Mexico starting at the end of October.
Klass told the Media that the GFF is in the Red and plans are now afoot to get an audience with the relevant Government officials to see what help could be given since Corporate Guyana has failed to respond  to their many requests.
“We have met with almost all sponsors in Guyana and in terms of immediate response only Banks DIH and Church’s Chicken have responded positively.
The type of response that is needed is far below. We have been sending budgets and requests for assistance but corporate response is little. In fact we don’t even get acknowledgement of receiving letters. We (GFF) exist by daily miracles,” the football chief exclaimed.
Klass warned that his Federation will have no other choice but to withdraw if the funds needed are not forthcoming, “If it comes to pulling out we’ll have to. At this moment the demands are more than the Federation could manage because a tremendous amount of finance is necessary to sustain programs and teams.”
This year has seen a marked improvement on performances at Regional Tournaments in football and due to the constant lack of funds the Women team which beat Cuba to qualify for the CAC finals had to withdraw as the GFF could not get the financial support of Businesses and Government.
The GFF boss also stated that plans for the continued preparation of the three male teams are now being fine-tuned and that efforts to meet with the Ministry of Sport to see what assistance could be given are being explored.
In just over a week Guyana will take on Haiti, St Vincent & the Grenadines and host, Trinidad & Tobago for one of two spots available from the group competition to advance to their second DIGICEL Caribbean cup finals.
The four semi-finalists from the finals set for Martinique between November 26th and December 5th will automatically qualify for the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Head Coach of the senior national side Wayne Dover who was also present at the Media briefing indicated that he would resume training with the local players by Monday the latest, while it is the intention of the Management and Coaching staff to assemble the team in T&T at the earliest.
Coach Dover also expressed thanks on behalf of the side for the support given so far and related that the side is aiming to reach the finals.