Lack of finance forcing players not to commit ― Thomas

GFF/Stag Elite League…

By Akeem Greene

Secretary of the Fruta Conquerors Football Club Daniel Thomas firmly believes that the lack of finances by clubs in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Stag Elite League is hampering the commitment of players to their clubs.
Thomas’ contention is that due to most clubs not having the financial manpower to lure and keep players, they cannot fully contract players.

He explained, “Because we don’t have contracts with players, clubs such as ours have no way of retaining players, we allow them to go on their own free will, but what should happen in a profession environment, the players should be under contract.”
He further stated, “either you [the club] break the contract with the players, as you release him or if a club requests a player, they would have to contact the club and then you say if you want to freely give him to the club or there is a fee attached; however our hands were tied since we were not able to put our players on a contract for a number of reasons.”
In revealing those some of those reasons, Thomas said, “the claim was that they [players] were being offered something substantial other than what our club could have afforded them “.
The club sectary statements come off the heels of the recent transfer window which saw some sweeping changes in the dynamics of teams in the league, with many players taking leaps to other clubs. Fruta Conquerors is one club, which faced the brunt of the transfer window, losing several quality players.
The league has been branded as a semi-professional league and the pillar in which the country’s football will be built but Thomas revealed a startling fact that for most of the clubs in the league and more so Guyana, the players are not on retainer contracts.
“Every player of a professional league should be on contract, however I am quite certain almost all the clubs, maybe with the exception of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) where the players sign an employment contract, the players are not contracted and that includes Slingerz and Alpha; it may be done for the overseas players who have to come through the TMS [Transfer Matching System],” Thomas disclosed.
The club official was adamant that this is a flaw in the league, stating “the reality is that most clubs do not have sponsorship which will give them the ability to offer players suitable financial packages. Thomas revealed that some of their overseas signing such as Rafael dos Santos Melo and Shaquille Agard will not be returning since “we could not bring players and they don’t have the necessary resources to pay them.”
On that note he added, “That’s a problem the league is facing, and I don’t think the league will be able to sustain itself if clubs don’t find the necessary funding to pay or retain players and that is very critical”. The second instalment of the Elite League is tentatively slated to commence mid September, with Slingerz FC seeking to defend their championship title.([email protected])