GFF weighing options ahead of potential restart of football

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) is engaged in discussions on the best option to take if they are granted approval by the COVID-19 Task Force to resume on-field activities.

President Wayne Forde explained on Tuesday that they want to make the best practical decision given on-field activities have been dormant for about 11 months.

The long lay-off from the pitch is the reason for the uncertainty of the best approach to take. The restrictions on groupings and closure would have affected the top footballers being able to access proper training facilities.

“The first thing is what can we do between now and December 31? What are the objectives? Should we focus on a single tournament or focus on football in a festival format where we can touch every age group, boys and girls? We are simply coming out of an extensive dormancy period and maybe the opportunity is there to reactivate on-field activity across the widest spectrum and those are the discussion taking place among the technical staff,” Forde related to News Room Sport.

The new COVID-19 measures state that sporting events are permitted, subject to the approval of the Minister of Health and in compliance with any guidelines that the Ministry of Health may issue.

Every person or organiser hosting an approved sporting event shall be responsible for ensuring that the measures under the notice, as well as the guidelines that the Ministry of Health may issue are complied with.

According to Forde, based on what requirements they will have to meet, then they can decide on the best way to restart the sport.

While there is a great desire to see football again on the pitch in Guyana, the GFF president said all must be conscious of the current situation and operate in a practical manner.

In September, the GFF said it remained hopeful it can organise some on-field activities before the end of the year, with the annual season-ending Super 16 Cup being the target.