Football programmes may require gov’t aid – Sam Cox
With the global sporting industry especially football expected to suffer a financial crunch during this current Covid-19 pandemic, Golden Jaguars Football Captain Sam Cox opined that smaller nations such as Guyana might require financial assistance from their respective Governments to ensure stability of their respective programmes.
He made this statement during an exclusive interview with Stabroek Sport. According to Cox, while the focus should be on health to overcome the current global situation, financial aid from respective governments and international federations for smaller countries might be required to offset the economic damage incurred after the situation abates.
He said, “Maybe something needs to be done in terms of some of the lower ranked countries like ourselves (they) maybe need some kind of financial package from the Government or FIFA or some of the bigger organizations to ensure that programmes are still being able to run. I am sure the federation is on course with that and trying their best to ensure that the programmes continue running as they were once this is all over. Again the main priority and message is health and safety, we will play football again and there is light at the end of the tunnel.”
Cox, who is also former Tottenham Hotspur academy alumnus stated that the current situation has dealt a setback to the Golden Jaguars’ push for possible CONCACAF Gold Cup Qualification, a feat if achieved would be the nation’s second ever appearance in the prestigious championship.
He added, “At this time health and safety is the priority so it’s a setback for everyone. It’s not just Guyana but every single industry and person across the globe that is being affected by this so yes it’s a setback and we did have momentum heading into the two fixtures. With Barbados and possibly having won that game Trinidad and Tobago.”
The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) confirmed that the 2021 Gold Cup Playoff Qualifiers against Barbados this month has been suspended by CONCACAF due to the spread of the novel coronavirus (NCoV-19).
Guyana was set to face-off against Barbados in a home and away series on March 26th and 31st respectively. The first match was to be held in Barbados with the Golden Jaguars to host the return leg five days later at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.
According to Cox, “However at the end of the day, health and safety is priority in this time of unprecedented crisis that we are going through. There will be a day when football resumes and in the meantime we just have to ensure the health and safety of our friends, family and loved ones is at a premium. We have to listen to Government guidelines until cleared as to when football can resume again.”
He added, “As in the meantime we just have to stay as fit as we can, stay in contact with each other and just take care of each other. That is the main priority. In terms of the financial implications, this is something that has affected most industries and they will be major economic setbacks.”