Football elitism must end

Dear Editor,

I read an interesting piece, written by J. Abraham in the March 29, 2024 edition of the Stabroek News. It sounded the call for greater investment in Rupununi football, and highlighted certain hurdles which prevent the development of an enabling environment for the sport to be transformative in this southern district of Guyana. Much of the letter I agree with.

However, I must say as an avid follower of local football that all is not well in the East Demerara Football Association (EDFA) like most of the associations. The experience of football in Rupununi is not isolated. Facilities and clubs at most association levels are largely not funded by any form of subvention or other incentive, despite the critical role of the sport in influencing positive behavioural patterns among the most vulnerable group of men in society.

A quick survey will reveal that footballers at the various association levels are drawn from ‘at- risk’ environments, where drugs, crime, and unemployment remain relatively high. The sport, and by extension some referees, the club managers, executives and coaches, in their unrewarded and unrecognized callings, instill discipline, values of group cohesion, and purpose of winning every day in the lives of these ‘at-risk’ youths engaged in the playing of football. However, there is not much they can do beyond this, due to the state of football at the association levels.

One of the major causes of this problem is the heavy responsibility of funding the elitism in football which seems to be the new norm. Structure, timely elections, and realignment of monetary priorities will lead to the creation of the enabling environment for the development of association football alongside football played by the ‘Elites’.

Yours sincerely, Kevin P. Morgan