One mother has decided to fight for her son’s right to free movement and is seeking an explanation from Asot’s Arcade Parham FC and Antigua & Barbuda Football Association (ABFA) as to why the national youth player is being barred from playing for the club of his choice.
Anthea Gordon, the mother of Kelvin Ferrance, has lashed out at Parham FC and their general secretary, Asot Michael, for what she believes to be a wanton effort to bar her son from playing for Hospitality Services Sea View Farm FC after the player had secured a release from the defending champions.
Ferrance was slated to make his debut for Sea View Farm against Parham on Saturday but had his hopes crushed after being informed of his in-eligibility.
“When he got the release at first Mr Michael spoke to him and told him that he was going to write to the ABFA telling them that the release was illegal and that he couldn’t play for Sea View Farm and that was about three or four weeks ago but he never wrote anything,” she said.
“Kelvin continued to practice (with Sea View Farm) and low and behold, the day before the Parham game, he was told that a letter was written to the ABFA saying that he is there illegally and if when they play Sea View Farm and Sea View Farm wins they are going to protest the game.
According to reports, letters came from both Michael and President Paul “Chet” Greene last week informing ABFA that the release was signed by Manager Lynroy “Ellirat” Richards and not Michael and/or Greene as stipulated by the Parham constitution.
The FA was reportedly further informed in both letters that should the player be allowed to take the field for Sea View Farm, Parham was ready and willing to take legal action.
ABFA subsequently and rightfully informed Sea View Farm of the developments and asked that the played not be utilised until the matter could be sorted.
According to Gordon, however, Richards has signed a number of releases for players this season, all of whom have gone on to represent other teams in the ABFA programme.
“What I am understanding is that Sea View Farm were advised not to play him on Saturday until they can work out what is happening just to be on the safe side. My question is: the same person signed the releases for the players who went to ABAYA (and) no one called the manager for ABAYA. ABAYA played on Friday, too. No one called them; so in the Parham constitution is there something saying the manager can sign for players going to maybe a First or Second Division team but not if they are going to a Premier team? I’m not understanding and I am very upset,” the concerned mother said.
“My son just wants to play football and that’s all. He just wants to play football. It has nothing to do with money,” she added.
Relevant checks revealed that Richards has, in fact, signed a number of releases for players leaving the Parham outfit this season and even as far back as two seasons ago.
A meeting is reportedly slated for sometime this week when the FA will seek to have the issue resolved.
It is not the first time that Ferrance had taken issue with getting a release from Parham FC as two seasons ago, he was denied a release after announcing his intentions to play for Freeman’s Village FC in First Division.
(Source http://www.antiguaobserver.com/?p=69410)
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