…Forde calls Stabroek News article misleading

By Rawle Toney

PRESIDENT of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Wayne Forde, has rubbished an article published in the July 16 sports section of the Stabroek News, which stated that football in Guyana will resume on August 1.

The report stemmed from information published by the sport’s governing body, FIFA on their official FIFA Worldwide Registration Periods Calendar.

According to the information on FIFA website, the GFF Senior Men’s season is scheduled for August 1 2020 to May 31 2021.

However, speaking to Chronicle Sport, Forde said the “the FIFA website carries the established schedule they have on record, for each Member Association’s (MA) top league. The GFF has not and cannot confirm any date for the resumption of Football without the requisite clearance and guidance from the Ministry of public Health.”

While the Government of Guyana has moved to phase-3 of the country’s reopening, there are still restrictions on all sporting event.

In an prior interview with Chronicle Sport, Forde said developing a National Senior Men’s tournament that can be completed in 2020, playing the GFF Super-16 Cup as well as seeing an Intra-Association women’s tournament will be part of the agenda whenever clearance is given for the sport’s return in Guyana.

The GFF also plans to have short, compact Intra-Association, U-15, U-17 & U-20 Boys, either at the Association level or as part of the Inter-academy competition programme.

Affixing dates to the plan is the biggest challenge for the GFF, taking into account the unpredictable shifting in the cases of COVID-19, as Forde related that they’re “essentially making educated guesses as to when the return to some semblance of normal life will occur.”

The GFF had stated that that plans will be tailored to suit the situation that currently exists and updated along the way.

Competitive football in Guyana is currently at a halt, with all on-field action suspended until further notice.

Ever since the known cases of the coronavirus emerged in Guyana, the federation has been proactive in taking measures to guard against the spread, the foremost decision being the reduction of operations at the Secretariat to a minimal.

Forde said that while the fraternity is disappointed that no football is being played; stakeholders understand the need to exercise caution and adhere to the stipulated guidelines issued by health authorities.

Any decision on when it is safe for football to resume would be done in consultation with the relevant stakeholders.