ANY lingering concern eligible voters may be grappling with as to whether former Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President Franklin Wilson (Acting) deserves another chance to serve could easily be allayed with a quick examination of his performance in office.

The former Head will be aiming to win the Presidency when the GFF holds its Electoral Congress on December 9 at the National Training Centre, Providence.
Wilson, who ascended to the highest office in the land during a difficult period in world football because of the far-reaching bans incurred on many top officials in the sport, did not allow his sudden transition to deter him from advancing Guyana’s reputation and ranking on the world stage.
Instead, he used his vast experience in the administrative domain to provide the country’s ball weavers with the best opportunities to showcase their skills on the international stage, and at the same time enhance Guyana’s growing reputation as possessing players with exceptional talent.
The period of his tenure was, inarguably, historic, with the highlight being Guyana’s first-ever qualification to the third round of World Cup qualifiers, which included the all-important victory over a star-studded Trinidad and Tobago team.

This was preceded by the playing of over 20 international friendlies, with most of those engagements resulting in victories, the first time that Guyana was engaged in so many matches in a short period.

The sport being discussed here is football, and the on-field achievements, combined with the development of the game at all levels, must serve as proof to render a true analysis of any administrative performance in office.

The current executive has literally sacrificed the sport on the altar of self-promotion and intimidation, and this approach only succeeded in creating a downturn in the sport’s fortunes.
There was a lot of resentment from players, clubs failed to retain players, the parents’ and fans’ experience became scarce, and when this happened, the support for such a poor product converted into a struggle to obtain real funding from the corporate community.

Wilson’s previous tenure was characterised by his willingness to be all-inclusive, and that meant engaging with the Government, corporate sector, and all the other related stakeholders to ensure that there was input from all that ultimately proved successful.

The result of his period in office is well documented, and all interested in witnessing the resuscitation of the sport from its current state must not delay in offering support for the former top official.

Football, as stated earlier in the missive, is literally dead; not much is happening right now. Save and except for a few individual promoters, one could only wonder whether there would have been any need for an Electoral Congress.

Some might be tempted to say that this view is a bit far-fetched, or even utterly pessimistic, but the present administration’s lifeless performance over the past eight years is what has given rise to such hopelessness.

When lovers of the sport, fairly reach this point of disgust, then any right-thinking voter must decide to put the game ahead of any personal ambition or deception.
It is difficult to see the current executive exhibiting this level of selflessness, since the attitude has always been egotistical. This, therefore, means the electorate will have an opportunity on December 9 to put football first and save it from total extinction.