Dear Editor
I REFER to a Stabroek News editorial “Street Warriors” published in S.N.20.12.17, which while offering some meaningful insights into: “Administrative inefficiencies, poor marketability, inherent and escalating debt(s),”nevertheless failed to comprehend the statutes that govern the sport of football, which is the world’s largest spectator sport and the most emotional and financially lucrative.

A timely reminder entails: “The level of any sport is normally determined by the level of administration in place”, which makes relevance to the ongoing issue of regulating/regularising all formats of football”.

Surely, if for some strange reason this can’t be addressed, then, “private promoters in tandem with corporate sponsorship can undermine the competent authority of the sport,” with the GFF at the helm as the governing body, and private promoters having their own way. The creation of a “parallel federation, answerable to no one, would become imminent”. Would Stabroek News editorial be supportive of this? Would they be supportive of inadequate non-police security, sale of alcoholic beverages after 02:00 hrs and 5-a-side football still being played at a government controlled facility? What about school- aged children that may be playing at this hour?

For the love of the game and the world, what’s love got to do with it? Or for the love of money? Editor, there was a time when former journalists were very critical of the Kashif & Shangai year-end tournament. But now the very brothers are private promoters. Isn’t this duplicity, or hypocrisy? Maybe, my humble suggestion should be entertained. “From 2018, all registration forms for clubs, with players’ particulars included, must have a clause affixed, consisting of: No objection certificate for participation in 5-a-side/street football, with the basic understanding when this occurs, national and club representation ceases”! Once again, is it fair for the GFF, via associations and clubs through the instrumentality of FIFA and CONCACAF, [to] invest in developing players and officials for private promoter’s benefits? What a sad day this would be. Moreover, when journalists in tandem with private promoters give extensive coverage of activities, photo(s) included at the expense of organised football, is any care and consideration being given to other corporate sponsors? Of course the very sports writers and definitely not sport journalists are assured, before the first ball is kicked, of their financial remuneration.
Does Stabroek News Sports Department have one of these goodly sports writers? Are the core values of sports journalism being maintained in high esteem that the publication daily prints?

Finally, within every Constitution of FIFA’s affiliates worldwide, which at the last count was 212, has an imprinted clause in relation to “Aims and Objectives” that by extension entails regularising football. As a consequence, to act contrary or simply turn a blind eye can have a devastating impact on the sport, in any country. As a consequence, the GFF has to toe the line, or the likelihood of being sanctioned. Nevertheless, I’m not in agreement with the terminology describing “street football” as the poor man’s game, since, were it so, prize money would have never been in the vicinity of $500,000.

Editor, since you may not be aware within a budgetary framework, i.e. street football, apart from prize monies, other expenditures consist of referees fees, preparation of playing area, purchase of balls, trophies and medals, advertising, bibs, laundry, beverages (water), goals, mobile lavatories and sound system. It must be noted that I have not included medical personnel/physiotherapist, workers and construction of movable walls and transportation which, at the end of the day, are all expenses.
Regards
Lester Sealey