….major Highs and Lows

By Ras: Wadada
THE year 2015 for the “Beautiful Game” in Guyana can be best described, in one word, as the incumbent President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Wayne Forde characterised the first month in office of the new Executive Committee – Eventful.

The most impacting blow to have been dealt to the most popular sport in the world during last year would be the inevitable revelation of the magnitude of corruption that pervaded the corridors of the world-governing body. While investigations continue, top officials have been extradited and indicted by the FBI and heavy suspensions are being meted out by the Ethics Committee of FIFA.
Here in Guyana, for the first time the governance of the game was in the hands of a FIFA- installed Normalisation Committee (NC) for all but the last month and a half of the year; and from all reports, their 14-month stint at the helm is more than commendable. In fact, they must be credited for creating and setting the platform for much-needed change and the new, positive dispensation that rescued the “Beautiful Game” from getting ugly.
There is no denying that there were low points in their tenure, with the chief among them being failure of the management of the senior national team to get the necessary paperwork completed for several overseas-born players to represent Guyana in a World Cup Preliminary fixture against St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
One of these said players had played in a friendly against Grenada in Guyana prior to the World Cup engagement and the Federation was subsequently fined $4,000 Swiss Francs (approx. $879,000GYD) and the victory reversed to give Grenada the match they lost 1-3. In the end, the NC made the just decision to fire the management team.
The deficiency in management at the national teams’ level was again exposed when an over-aged player was taken to Antigua for the Olympics qualifiers.
The much-followed eight-team Elite League was brought to a halt when one team refused to take to the field over the eligibility of one of their players and for the only time in the competition a game was not played.
The six points taken away from the team and the fine imposed by the GFF did not deter them from capturing the League and Play-offs as they proved superior to all the other teams.
The continuous low for football in the country for the longest time is a well structured schools league programme geared towards meaningful development.
This bug bear must be tackled with immediacy to create an avenue of opportunities for young boys and girls football talents and minds, so as to broaden our talent pool.
The two main mandates of the Clinton Urling-led NC were to revise the constitutions of the GFF and its members, as well as to conduct elections for a new executive committee of the GFF. Both were successfully achieved with full participation and for the first time some clubs were admitted to the GFF as members. The eight clubs that were granted FIFA club licences were also a first in the history of the sport in Guyana.
The kickstart of the eight-team Elite League came like a breath of fresh air to the “Beautiful Game,” as it brought increased crowds and improved quality of play; and if one is to judge from the first phase, then expect a second phase with more to shout about.
At the moment, the transfer window is open for the month of January, but reports from the Federation’s office indicate little activity is happening with regard to ‘request for transfer.’
On the international scene, the Lady Jags took the spotlight when they qualified for the final round of the CONCACAF Rio Olympics competition. The Mark Rodrigues-assembled and coached side came from a goal down to defeat the Jamaica Reggae Girls 2-1 and earned a spot among the eight top CONCACAF women teams who will be vying for the two places in Brazil this year when they contest the final round in Houston next month.
The highest point in 2015 for the “Beautiful Game” in Guyana must however be the acquisition of close to nine acres of land at Providence to build a home for football under the FIFA GOAL PROECT. The endorsement of the GFF and visits by FIFA officials and potential overseas contractors are moving apace; and with an estimated four-year time frame for completion, this present executive committee has the opportunity to leave a lasting and indelible legacy.
‘For the good of the game,’ here in Guyana, it appears that the “Beautiful Game” is heading in a new positive direction, but one is tempted to say: “Let there be Fair Play, please.’