AN INCREASE in prize money and participation fees among other matters will be up for discussion, when the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), who is being tasked with executing the duties of mediator and facilitator, sits with both the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation (K&S) and Clubs for Negotiations (CN) soon.
This was revealed at a press conference held at the Waterchris Hotel by chairman of CN Marlon Cole. Cole, Lyndon France from Buxton United and Andrew Thom from Seawall Football Club are the members appointed by the clubs concerned to represent them.
According to president of Alpha United Football Club, Odinga Lumumba, the reason this group, which can be likened to that of a football union was formed, was to arrive at a common process to move forward when it comes to the issues mentioned above.
“There is a fundamental disagreement when it comes to the prize money that is up for grabs. Yes, we are aware that there is an increase in this year’s prize money, but our position has always been that teams need better participation fees to compete in this tournament.
It would cost approximately $600 000 to prepare a team for this tournament inclusive of uniforms and what we are asking for is not an unreasonable request and we believe the K&S Organisation needs to take a professional approach to this issue as soon as possible,” stated Lumumba.
Cole further stated that 11 clubs who were to compete in the 21st edition of the tournament, have signed a petition addressed to the General Secretary of the GFF Noel Adonis, requesting the meeting to discuss the issues highlighted.
“They are numerous stakeholders involved here. First of all, we need to look at the organising body, in this case K&S, then you have the sponsors who pump hundreds of thousands of dollars into the tournament, followed by the most important stakeholder, the club and its players.
“I must say that I am happy the clubs came together and formed this group to have their issues addressed collectively, as it shows we are taking this position to come together and champion the cause for  a better structuring of football in Guyana,” stated Cole who is also the president of Fruta Conquerors Football Club.
Cole further stated that a letter highlighting the 11 clubs’ issues and signed by the executives of the clubs was handed to Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major, who told CN to send same to the GFF for them to handle the situation.
“This is not about killing football; for at the end of the day the game is being played as the K&S Organisation displayed, when Alpha signalled they would be pulling out of the tournament, by naming the standby team as an official team of the tournament.
However, CN would love to see Alpha readmitted into the tournament, as it would be in the best interest of the tournament competition-wise, since they are the top team in the country. We don’t wish to hear talks like ‘you won the tournament because Alpha did not play’.
Teams prepare and look forward to this tournament from as early as February every year and with due respect to the other teams, it is only fair that the best teams in the country battle it out for what can be described as Guyana’s mini world cup” stated Cole.
Quizzed on what would be the next step should the GFF rule in favour of K&S at the meeting, both Cole and France said that would be decided after the meeting as they are awaiting the outcome of the meeting before thinking about a Plan ‘B’ as they feel something positive will arise out of the meeting.
When contacted for a comment, Major said when he was presented with the letter which had a request for an increase in participation fees, he refused to accept same but rather instructed the body to take up the matter with the GFF.
“While I was at Georgetown Club, I saw a group of approximately 8 individuals at a table who later made an attempt to present to me a letter whose contents requested an increase in appearance fees for our tournament.
“I refused to accept the letter which was handwritten and instructed the body to take same to the Federation, since we are taking directives from the GFF,” said Major.