My administration made contributions to Guyana’s football development

Dear Editor,

I shall be very grateful for the opportunity to respond to the comments made by Mr. Colin Aaron of the Kashif and Shanghai Organization in the December 18th edition of the Stabroek News in a letter entitled `Matthias should leave football administration to the experts’.

Let me first establish, that at no time were my comments directed to or for the Kashif and Shanghai Organization or any member thereof since neither that organization nor its members are relevant to my development.

I noticed however that Mr Aaron elected, from that organization’s platform, to respond, purportedly, for and on behalf of the GFF. I respectfully seek to remind him of the following.

[1] The individual with whom he attempted to compare me with had been at the helm of Guyana’s football for 20 odd years. The constitutional mandate of the GFF under his stewardship was to establish, develop, promote, regulate and control the association’s football. During his tenure in office, there was no administrative soundness, nor technical and tactical correctness. Furthermore, the absence of structured, as well as graduated competitions, was noticeable. Our participation at international tournaments was characterized by the importation of players to fulfill the obligation of our eager but underdeveloped locals, notwithstanding the volume of finance obtained by FIFA. In addition, the much needed democratic environment was denied as all but one association, at one time or the other, were suspended by the said administration and hadn’t a voice. Mr Aaron himself can bear testimony since he would have personally experienced a measure of the tyranny that existed throughout those years.

Let me also remind Mr Aaron that the said president of the GFF with whom he attempted to compare me with was charged and found guilty by FIFA for his involvement in the Bin Hammam Cash for Votes Scandal, the worst scandal to ever hit the Caribbean Football Union region. And it would be remiss of me if I were not to remind Mr Aaron that within the said administration, two of his organization’s directors, at one time or the other, held the very important office of organizing secretary and I dare say that nothing significant was organized save and except, a yearend tournament which was masqueraded as being that of the GFF but which rather, had belonged to his organization.

[2] What is even more interesting is that on several occasions, the GFF of which two of Mr Aaron’s directors were members, had reason to chide and reprimand his organization for fraudulent practices. Namely the under-declaring of income and profits received during the hosting of the yearend tournament. Mr Aaron is aware, that such income and profit formed the basis for the measuring of levy fees which became due and payable to the associations, the clubs as well as players participating in the said tournament. Moreover, Mr Aaron is also aware that to date, there are still levy fees to be had and received by the GFF, from his organization for the hosting of some of those yearend tournaments. At the time of writing I am still to learn as to whether, the prize of one Movado watch for the Best Coach for Mr Aaron’s organization’s inaugural event which was held at the National Stadium was ever received by Mr. Denzil Thompson of the Pele FC.

[3] Let me further state for Mr Aaron’s benefit, the measure of my involvement in football with the support of Banks DIH Ltd, the leading contributor to the various sports disciplines within Guyana. The following were some of the measures of my administration’s contribution to Guyana’s football development. 1. An increase in the prizes at the Georgetown Association’s leagues. 2. Increases in the prizes at the Knockout Tournaments. 3. A policy which resulted in clubs which do not advance to the quarter finals, receiving at least 33% of all profits from the Knockout Tournaments in which they would have participated. 4. Seasonal passes for the members of all clubs participating in the aforementioned Knockout Tournaments. 5. And at the Federation Level, a policy which supported the provision of national passes for all registered coaches, referees and free access to all football tournaments for former national players.

[4] With regards to FIFA’s involvement in my demitting office, let me state for your knowledge, the agreement made by members of the then FIFA Administration and myself, whilst attending the FIFA World Cup held in Brazil, in the anticipation of delivering further benefits for Guyana’s football development. It is a known fact within members of FIFA that the government, with which Mr Aaron’s organization has been associated, would have made a promise of 11 acres of land to FIFA for the development of football. The said government was uncomfortable with my elevation to the helm of Guyana’s football. Indeed one minster of the said government would have stated to me and I quote, “We knew what you were trying to do. You were trying to empower, through education, on a platform of football, the members, most of whom are Guyanese of African descent, we would have none of it. That’s why we fought you from the moment you got elected.” It was decided between members of FIFA and myself, for me to step aside so that the nation’s football could benefit with the acquisition of the land at Leonora. For the good of the game, I readily acquiesced. It is a known fact that the normalization committee, which replaced my administration, was filled with ardent supporters of the then government and some of whom were closely aligned to Mr Aaron’s organization. Sadly, I dare say, to date FIFA is still awaiting the Promised Land at Leonora.

As a concerned citizen passionate about the development of Guyana, and the role that sports play in such development, I was constrained to ask if the deception which was performed on this footballing nation by the Colin Klass-led administration was being repeated by the Wayne Forde administration [Bruce Lovell, Rawlston Adams, Thandi McAllister], which promoted its campaign on the platform of integrity. You see, Mr. Aaron, the nation has been hearing an advertisement which states that the GFF presents a Futsal Tournament, and the said advertisement clearly states that the said tournament is organized and produced by the Kashif and Shanghai Organization. I have no interest as to whether Mr Aaron’s organization hosts a tournament or not but he would agree that the present scenario would give rise to certain questions. Is this really the GFF’S Futsal Tournament? If it is, what is the role of the Director of Competitions? Since the GFF is cash strapped, why contract out the hosting of its tournament? Would the GFF have to, once again, write your organization for inaccurately declaring the income and profits? And if the tournament is not that of the GFF, why masquerade it as being such? Those were the questions which readily came to mind.

I respectfully await the response of the GFF.

Yours faithfully, Christopher

Matthias Mark Anthony