FIRST of all let me admit to my readers that I do not know Mike Archer, it could very well be my good friend Frederick Kissoon, fpr whom I have a lot of respect, but let’s suppose it’s he (I sincerely doubt it) he will most definitely forgive me I know him well.
Mike Archer seems to be the same individual, who everyone thinks does not exist, but rather is someone else using a pen name to disguise the real author.

Whatever the truth is in relation to whether the name is authentic or invented, I am responding to the letter written on May 16, 2018 in the Guyana Chronicle under the caption ‘Guyana football never witnessed this transformation’ attributed to that name.
First of all, I have repeatedly challenged my critics to show evidence of my being a hired pen and they’ve all failed to do so which means that making such an accusation is entirely false and malicious at best.

However, I’m prepared, especially with so much time on my hands, to answer individuals such as Mr Archer via the same medium he uses and not threaten court action as was done to me in the past.

If we are to enlighten our readers about the state of affairs as it relates to local football then let us do so in a decent, respectful and factual manner which will help all and sundry to better understand the reality of the situation.

Just for the sake of identity, was it the same Mr Archer, who penned a letter in the Stabroek News of (05.10.17) captioned “Urling’s criticism of GFF unconscionable?”
Right there you see who is the hired pen since at no time has he ever shown himself to be independent, but rather appears to have a really warm relationship with President Wayne Forde. So much for the hired pen finger-pointing.

His missive was met with a retort from one Lester Sealey writing in the Guyana Chronicle of November 12, 2017 under the caption: Has Mike Archer assumed the role of GFF apologist?

In that letter, the writer said, “Editor, it’s anyone’s guess why Archer would descend to a “clogged-up and overflowing gutter” to publicly highlight Urling’s name appearing on a List of Candidates for the PPP/C, in the 2015 National and Regional Elections! Isn’t that the individual’s constitutional, democratic and fundamental right? Or, is Archer implying that German’s Restaurant should be boycotted, albeit the Kashif and Shanghai Annual K.O. Tournament, from 2011 and onwards? What a downright shame for Archer’s mental state of pettiness”.

Let me now get to several charges he made against me starting with what he referred to as “baseless attacks of Guyana’s football development programme”.

He listed the following programmes as a guide for the Federation’s success and they include: a nationwide grassroots development programme, supported by a Brand partner; a nationwide U-15 Boys League supported by a Brand partner; a nationwide U-17 Boys League supported by a Brand partner; introduction of the Nation’s first academy programme with 13 academy training centres (ATC) spread across Guyana and supported by a Brand partner; the nation’s 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 ATC; winning Guyana’s first-ever Regional Youth Tournament; building Guyana’s 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 U-15 Boys Championship, in addition to visits by high-ranking FIFA/CONCACAF officials.

Editor, while I concede all the above are important ingredients for the development of the sport, let Mr Archer say whether they’ve been able to transfer those assets and programmes into improving the image and fortune of the sport, since many of the Elite teams, service providers and many other entities are owed large sums of moneys.
I await his response to this question.

Secondly, he referred to me as a “common ‘street hustler’ armed with a pen and a plan to influence public opinion, while also thinking that his tournament be given preferential treatment, irrespective of the physical and security risks to Guyana’s 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.”

Mr Archer, nothing is fundamentally wrong with being a street hustler, providing it is done legally and within the ambit of the law so there should be no shame in that.
Just remember there are many different types of hustlers some in offices and some on the streets; so just be careful about your criticisms before your words come back to haunt you.
Some may be working aggressively and determinedly, especially to advance his or her career, while others may be described as petty criminals or prostitutes for your information and guidance.

For someone without a criminal background and certainly without a previous conviction this may serve as a guide to which ‘hustler’ I am.
In reference to my thinking that my tournament should have preferential treatment I would ask that you check with the president or any of his executives to find out whether or not I have advocated or even insinuated such, before you make such pronouncements.

All the time you are putting your integrity on the line Mr Archer, and that is a primary component to preserve if you are going to attack others who place much value on such. Just check the facts and be careful what you say.
On the question of being supportive of the Federation’s performance over a period, what is wrong with my being critical of their work of late, Mr Archer?
You know what it shows, it simply illustrates that I’m an individual thinker and am not predisposed or even afraid to be slandered for speaking the truth.

Let me say for the records, I have always been sympathetic to officials who put the sport and the athlete first. They usually get more than enough credit from me, personally, but I’m equally hardhearted to those who are falsehearted and self-absorbed.
I have been consistent in my portrayal of what I stand for. You just have to Google my work over the fourteen years that I spent with the Kaieteur News.

The Federation and Mr Forde are not the only sports administrators I’ve criticised during my stint in the media and this can be easily verified, but when the time comes for praise to be given I’ve never shirked from doing so.
Just Google KNews of January 24, 2018 under the caption – GOA’s gesture could not have been timelier.

This is an organisation that had incurred the wrath of my observations over a prolonged period and we had our exchanges, but when it came to offering credit when it was due I did so.
Mr Archer mentioned that “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”.

Once again, Mr Archer, your claim cannot stand scrutiny since I’ve only been involved in one promotion since leaving the media in June, 2017 so for me to be tainted by financial interests is totally unfounded and definitely inaccurate.

Do your research; it is the only pathway to maintaining your integrity. I know that you are hurt by my constructive criticisms, but the only avenue to avoid such inspections is to advise the Federation to be more truthful and accommodating to varied views.
Let me give the readers a classic example of the Federation, which Mr Archer represents,

Contempt for dissenting views
Imagine my friend from Stabroek News Duncan Saul was not invited to the recently staged Awards Ceremony.
Saul has been unchallenged in his coverage of the sport over the 10 administrative regions of this beautiful land of Guyana and in my opinion should have won the print media award in a canter, but because he has been critical of the Federation’s performance lately, he was given the cold-shoulder.

That course of action was downright petty and because of that deed one is forced to conclude that no amount of visits and photo-ops will be enough to rectify the bad image that the sport enjoys.
Individuals have got to rise above the pettiness and act more mature and smarter.
There is another much bigger example to highlight, but I will leave that for another exchange with Mr Archer.

I’ve repeatedly stated, football promotion will never define me. I have other abilities as well and the proof of the pudding is in the eating. I have not had cause to beg anyone or even be a bother to anyone since I left my job just under twelve months ago.
Mr Archer, I urge you to fix your gaze on those who are afraid to lose the perks that go with the office and those who’re covertly pressurising the corporate community.

Mr Archer went on to say that “Welch is agonising and howling in the wilderness, Guyana has never witnessed the transformational football development strategy being implemented by the Wayne Forde-led administration.
Well, Mr Archer, at least I can safely say that the Federation and you are among the ones agonising and howling; even though, according to you, it is occurring in the wilderness, it is being heard.

Who hears it is what matters, Mr Archer, because you are the ones who could make the change, but this is if the desire is there.
He further stated that “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.

The above is unadulterated hypocrisy and needs to be exposed for what it’s worth.
We have allegations of sexual misconduct levelled at high-ranking members of the Federation and Referees Council, in some instances for over one year and it was not until this writer and Saul threatened to expose it further that the president acquiesced to setting up a Commission of Inquiry.

We have not heard anything about the CoI’s progress since it commenced work.
The Mexico-switched game scandal remains unsolved and many reasons are being tendered for the Federation’s reluctance to carry through with the investigations, after publicly promising to do so following a General Council’s mandate.

This is the same General Council that has been offered the luxury to work independently and for the good of the game.
What a mockery! With a Federation that is usually in cash-strapped truss, wouldn’t it be sensible to investigate the lingering outrage to ascertain whether or not there was any wrongdoing.

Mr Archer, I implore you to read your President’s response to an interview with the media which was published on June 9, 2017.
Here is an excerpt from that interview: “While I respect the former president’s (Franklin Wilson) views, I’m obligated to respect the mandate of the members, who happen to be the highest decision-making body (for football) in the country. And every member that was represented at the Congress voted, and it was actually a unanimous decision to pursue an investigation”.

Not dissimilar to my course of action, the president seems to have altered his position on the Mexico investigation as well, but his came in less than one year.
I advise that you be balanced in your thinking and appraisal of the GFF, before you are rendered a minion.
Like my former Editor-in-Chief Adam Harris says, ‘Talk half, lef half’.

Yours truly
Rawle Welch