The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) announced last week the return of consistent, competitive football on a regional scale. Several leagues will be spearheaded by the Regional Member Associations (RMA), with logistical and material support from the GFF.
BFA President, Alden Marslowe
It goes without question that the RMAs, their leaders and members have jumped at the announcement, being eager to get back in the game. At last Friday’s launch, several heads of Guyana’s 9 RMAs shared their elation at the development, one of those heads being Bartica Football Association (BFA) President Alden Marslowe.
“The return to play is, for me, one of the greatest announcements that this country has had in two years. The return to play for this great sport means that the 100,000+youths across this country who want to play football can breathe again,” Marslowe said during his time with the mic on Friday last.
UDFA President, Wanewright Bethune
“I applaud the vision of the Guyana Football Federation because, even though those two years (had seen) a global pandemic, the Guyana Football Federation was not resting (and) did not stop breathing,” Marslowe has said.
Taking into account the dire situation in football before implementation of the Members’ Financial Assistance Programme (MFAP), Marslowe encouraged his fellow RMAs to now utilise their resources free of excuses.
EBFA General Secretary, Clayton Lambert
The BFA President explained, “Regional Associations were able, and continue to receive, cash money, actual money that can be used for the development of football. Regional Associations received, and continue to receive, gears, equipment and administrative support, capacity-building, and the list goes on.
“Now that football can breathe again, I encourage our colleagues from across the 9 Regional Members Associations to make full use of these resources that are being provided by the Guyana Football Federation; I see no need for excuses anymore,” Marslowe went on to add.
General Secretary of the East Bank Football Association (EBFA) Clayton Lambert, also likewise encouraged his colleagues to make use of the resources presented, while sharing admirable words for the GFF.
Lambert related, “We were about two years at home, no football. All the children around the place, nothing to do, but then one day it came and we heard about the return to play. What a pleasant day that was!
“To crown it off, we didn’t just return to play, we returned to play with great support from the GFF! If we should all grasp it and run with it (the opportunity), I don’t think there’s any way that we can go wrong.”
The EBFA General Secretary went on to urge, “Let us all grab this opportunity, and don’t let it fall on the wayside. Football can only get better with this kind of support.”
Describing how much the GFF’s supports augurs for the development of the sport was Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) President Wanewright Bethune, who highlighted that the move is an unprecedented one.
Bethune shared, “I’m very delighted to be here. Delighted and impressed because, for my years of involvement in football, I’ve never seen a collaborative effort steered by the parent body to have all Associations together to launch a league that will start simultaneously. This only breeds good for football.”
The UDFA boss continued, “Irrespective of the challenges we know we have in the various Associations, like Mr. Shabazz said, like that little bird, it thinks if we continue to push and do what we can do, it shows that Guyana football can only get better.”
The Regional Member Associations (RMA) have received equipment and other resources from the GFF, and are scheduled to commence 4 leagues during the month of May, 2022, signalling the full return of competitive local football. (Jemima Holmes)
