GFL squabble penalises players
-says Kashif Muhammad
By Steve Ninvalle
Stabroek News
October 1, 2002
President of the Upper Demerara Football Sub Association, Kashif Muhammad has declared that football in Georgetown would have a “long and hard road” back to the top if the present impasse that has hit the Georgetown Football League is not resolved soon.
“I would love to see this situation resolved. The administrators were always asking players to give of their best and now we have administrators definitely not giving of their best. This has brought much negativity to football,” Muhammad said.
“It is extremely frightening to think what some players may turn to when they can’t play the sport that they love. Many have already turned their backs on the sport,” Muhammad added.
“We have to remember that football is what some of the players live for. The longer it takes to resolve the situation the more harm will be done to young football players. It is my guess that spectators too have been affected by the drought. Likewise sponsors are looking on. The longer this continues the more turned off they will become.”
Football in the GFL came to a halt early in August after it was alleged that approximately $500,000 was missing from the organisation’s coffers.
Treasurer Daune Campbell was fingered in the alleged disappearance of the funds but has denied any wrong doings and promised to clear her name. In the mean time, the GFL executive were booted via a vote of no confidence from the general council and replaced by an Interim Management Committee.
However, the executive was reinstated two weeks later after the Guyana Football Federation deemed the IMC unconstitutional. Soon after GFL president Christopher Matthias resigned claiming back-stabbing, treachery and back-biting among others as reasons for his resignation.
“It is indeed sad that players have to pay such penalties for something they know absolutely nothing about. They honestly don’t deserve this,” Muhammad stressed.
Meanwhile, attorney for Campbell, Joe Harmon has revealed that a financial report, which was handed over to the IMC clears his client of any misappropriation.
“My understanding is that Daune is clear of any wrong doings while an executive of the GFL. In the report we gave an explanation for every cent she received and how it was spent,” the attorney said.
“A report to the media is forth coming but I wanted to give the IMC a chance to comment on the statement,” he declared and added that the present uncertainty of who is governing football in the city has delayed his release to the media.
Harmon disclosed that he was unaware of any investigation being conducted by the police up to the time of this interview.
“There is no police investigation as far as I’m aware. No member of the police force has contacted me or my client,” Harmon said.