I HEREBY refer to the above caption as it relates to the World Cup Qualifying group B match Guyana vs. Mexico, scheduled for Friday, October 12, 2012, initially slated for the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, but was subsequently shifted to Texas, USA.
Wherein upon whose instrumentality was the decision taken to shift the match? Was it a collective executive decision, that was unanimous (2/3 majority)? Further, was any executive meeting convened? And is there a record of minutes, accompanied by a Financial Statement, outlining income and expenditure, while not foregoing profit/loss? If not the entire exercise was in futility, since it wasn’t business oriented.
What of the ‘toothless poodles’ that continue to masquerade as General Council Members, whose whimper cannot even scare an ant. How many of those amongst associations and affiliates have the machismo (guts) to go through the entire process with a fine teeth comb, asking questions of relevance, and demanding answers of substance? Was there any consultation?
Presuming that a FIFA/CONCACAF Licenced Promotional/Marketing Group sells the idea to Guyana on behalf of Mexico, offering the GFF US$250,000 to forfeit its rights as a host, surely the significant amount of Gy$50,000,000 would be gobbled up at first sight, moreover, hindsight.
By the way, was legal advice sought from the GFF’s attorney, along with the relevant financial review from a qualified financial expert? Suffice it to say that whatever figure the GFF receives, the Mexicans will get almost double, if not, more.
Meanwhile, figuratively speaking, with the stadium having a seating capacity of probably 25,000 and an average entrance fee of US$40 would garner US$1,000,000 in gate receipts. In addition, advertising, sponsorship, beverages and food franchises and broadcast rights being other sources of additional income. However, to receive a mere 25% of gate receipts, places the GFF in a quagmire of being ‘penny wise and pound foolish’. Since conducting the affairs of football as a business, must make dollars and sense, and definitely not cents!
By the way, how many individuals outside the managerial and technical staff were offered free rides for live viewing of the match, accompanied by a one-entry visa, especially those who have never made a tangible contribution to the continued “development and promotion of football”?
Finally, is the national goalkeeping cupboard so bare, that the #2 choice is Derrick Carter of B.K Int. Western Tigers, who was granted conveniently a reprieve along with a $20,000 fine after he had previously verbally abused a referee with expletives, in a GFF National League Match? So good for inconsistency! And on the dispensation of justice, other players from lesser known clubs would have received lengthy suspensions from club representation.
What of the 12th man that a clarion call was made for publicly to support the Golden Jaguars, in home matches; why were they deprived of viewing the Mexican line up live on local soil, which would have been once in a lifetime, while a significant amount of local Brazilians, former national Guyanese footballers residing abroad and a few islanders would have added up to filling the Providence Stadium. More so, with Chicarito of Manchester United fame an English Premier League Club. Was it wise enough in selling the rights of hosting when taking into consideration the possibility of not having the best national selection for representation owing to visa issues, in addition to a depleted managerial and technical staff?