Dear Editor,
I POSE this question publicly since, to the best of my knowledge, the term/usage of “sub-association” has ceased being used way back in 1999, and by extension has been removed from the constitution and statutes of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF). That is if my memory serves me correctly.

I was therefore left bewildered on the morning of March 16th when, upon tuning into the VOG (102.5FM) Sports News, the GFF President publicly expressed his concern about the senior national football squad being selected from a mere 3 or 4 sub-associations affiliated to the GFF!

I subsequently contacted the NCN Sports Department/VOG for confirmation of the public disclosure emanating from the GFF president. This was confirmed to be authentic, and I made the relevant observations in addition to airing my concerns regarding the national squad’s selection.

Notwithstanding, it would be remiss of me not to mention a previous question I had posed last year, prior to the commencement of the Elite League: “Would the selection of locally-based players for the senior national squad consist of Elite League players only?”

The question went unanswered at the time.

The GFF President needs to be reminded that he was once the president of an Elite League club participating in football! If it didn’t matter then, should it matter now?

Further, with a lull in activity in other associations at the senior level presently, how can the coaching/technical staff be able to assess the performances and required standards of other players from various associations when, apart from the GFA & UDFA, Senior League matches are not being played elsewhere?

In the UDFA, costs would have to be offset for accommodation, meals and transportation! Is this within the annual budget of expenditure of the GFF?

In the final analysis, it would be prudent for the GFF President to channel his public disclosures via the Public Relations Department, if one does exist. Since whatsoever enters the public domain must always be able to withstand scrutiny, moreso within the context of constitutional and technical matters, suffice it to say that the onus is upon the GFF to ensure the sport of Association Football is being played by all of its affiliates. And it must be confirmed by each association submitting its annual calendar of activities within a specified time-frame.

Respectfully,
LESTER SEALEY