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PARENTS OF SOCCER PLAYERS PROTEST AGAINST 'SYSTEMIC DISCRIMINATION' IN SURREY METRO SOCCER DISTRICT |
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Furious parents of Surrey United 94 players have in an email to the big guns of the Surrey Soccer Association protested against the apparent systemic discrimination that Indo-Canadians are facing.
Copies of the email were also sent to Attorney General Wally Oppal and Surrey MLA Harry Bains.
Last week in this paper's lead story, Indira Prahst, Instructor of Race and Ethnic Relations, Department of Sociology, Langara College, Vancouver, had in her article, "Government must look into perceptions of systemic discrimination in Surrey Metro soccer district," exposed the controversial state of affairs prevailing in Surrey.
The parents in their email said they had decided "to immediately remove our players from any training/practices or games with the current Under 13 Surrey United Gold team, until such time there is a fair and objective inquiry into these issues by BC Soccer or a 3rd party."
The families are those of Brennan Hoffman, Aman Grewal, Amrit Hothi, Amar Liddar, Conor Kelley, Ronnie Johal, Patrick Sihota, Nathan Saran, Harpreet Samra, Ravdeep Atwal and Gary Dosanjh.
Here's part of their unedited protest email:
We have read Roy Mitchell's email regarding the justification for denying a request for an Under 14 Metro Team at Whalley next year. We have also taken into consideration the circumstances leading up to the SMSA (Surrey Metro Soccer Association) decision. As parents of children on this team, we are deeply disappointed by the "dirty politics" influencing the decision to deny an under 14 metro team at Whalley. As thus, we are exercising our democratic right to PROTEST this decision as a unified parent group until such time there is an appeal heard by BC Soccer …
We dispute Roy Mitchell's email regarding the reasons for denying such a request on the following grounds:
There was much historic precedence to support an request from Whalley for a select team, especially even when a particular club does not have a team at that age club.
We dispute SMSA's argument that this was the basis for the denial.
It is our view, that this was regretfully another form of intimidation to punish a group of people who have left either Surrey Youth or Surrey United as the board members from these clubs, seem to think they have an arbitrarily right to decide or influence all issues.
We dispute SMSA's view that this process was fair and objective
Several of the boards members, from Guildford, Surrey United and Surrey Youth were fully aware of this group's ability to field a competitive team at the Under 14 Metro level.
* 15 out of 15 players participated at the highest level (gold) of play this past season, with a majority of the group coming from the successful Surrey * The following players (conor kelly, brennan hoffman, amar lidder, ronnie johal, ravdeep atwal, aman grewal, amrit hothi, baltej badhan, tevan sandhu, patrick sihota) were members of the Under 12 Coastal and Provincial Cup Champion Team.
* Many of these players had also won the provincial B cup, the previous year, while playing a year up.
* All of these player's families had committed and signed registration forms for Whalley Soccer prior to the district meeting.
The board was fully aware of the success and caliber of this group in the past three years, and we feel the board's position on this issue (as per Mr. Mitchell's email) is baseless
Deadline for submitting application for metro
* Though, we cannot confirm any other dates (as none of us sit on the SMSA Board and its information is always discreet), the only date publicly announced for submitting Metro Teams for the upcoming 2007/2008 was last Wednesday.
* Traditionally, this decision to place metro teams is always in late March or early April and we are further advised that the official Metro list is due much later in July. Generally, no opposition is warranted for teams or groups with the successful history or caliber of players our group exhibits.
* On initial communication with several individuals who tried to assist us, Mr. Larry Laws of Whalley Soccer Club stating " that the only deadline to meet regarding submitting a select team request was last Wednesday."
* Mr. Laws also took the initiative to contact Tom Duncan, and suggest if he could "somehow find a solution with the group remaining at Surrey United"
* Teri Grewal , on behalf of the parents forwarded a comprehensive package that addressed all perceived concerns that may arise, and was informed that at the outset that "roy and tom" will be opposing this vehemently and emails/phone calls from board members were already circulating. At first, the opposition centered around "potential poaching by Whalley." No timelines or other reasons were ever stated until now.
* Mr. Grewal, believes Mr. Laws and Bob Sperling are knowledgeable and competent club and district board members, and as such, believes, "they would not have even entertained taking such a request to the District level, if an earlier deadline had not been met."
* Further, after receiving all documents from Mr. Grewal, Mr. Laws communicated with several board members prior to the meeting, including the chair Chris Paige, and at no time was there ever any indication, that "there ever was" or that a deadline had been missed.
As such, we once question the SMSA boards rational, that Whalley did not submit this request in due time and we question if "such a deadline" even existed. As such we once again, feel Mr. Mitchell's email regarding deadlines is a very questionable and weak argument.
In taking into consideration all of the particulars and relevant information, it is quite obvious how the SMSA board came to their decision.
* It is apparent that the opposition to this request was driven by personal animosity not rational thinking or objectivity.
* This decision was not about the issues, or the deadline date, or the caliber of the team, but rather board members being consumed with their hatred towards the individuals involved in this process.
* In reading Mr. Mitchell's email, we feel he is only insulting our intelligence, as it is a "typical cover up" of his historic true feelings to harm, discredit, show bias or punish those who disagree with him.
* We are also very disturbed and offended by the active role taken by Tom Duncan of Surrey United (as attached email), in lobbying to oppose this request, especially since he is a SMSA board member
* We feel the involvement of these two individuals is a conflict of interest and impedes objectivity in deciding this issue.
* It is quite clear, this decision was based on retribution to those who challenge the authority of some in the Surrey Soccer Community and an opportunity for those individuals to exert their power to "constrain" others from moving forward in soccer.
Decision by the Parents
* Until now, our parents and players have only showed respect to Mr. Duncan and to the Surrey United logo, which our son's have proudly worn the past 3 years.
* However, in viewing the all of the facts, we, the parents have decided the following
a) We cannot in good faith continue to support Mr. Duncan, and Surrey United, as Mr. Duncan has misused his position on the Metro Board to opposed a group of players from leaving his club
b) We cannot accept the "sugar coated" email justification by Roy Mitchell for the wrongful decision of the SMSA board to deny the Whalley Under 14 Metro request.
c) We cannot accept the neglect by the SMSA board to not investigate the repeat offensive behavior of (the couple) of Guildford Athletic
As such, we take into consideration the feelings of our son's and their desire to play together next year at Whalley. We also believe, this is a time to stand for your principles, and against harassment/bullying in the soccer community. This entire issue is about injustice and we therefore have decided, in PROTEST:
To immediately remove our players from any training/practices or games with the current Under 13 Surrey United Gold team, until such time there is a fair and objective inquiry into these issues by BC Soccer or a 3rd party.
We fully understand that this may result in our children protesting their upcoming Provincial Cup game on March 31, 2007, for which they have worked very hard to defend their provincial championship.
However, we feel the decision to deny our son's to play Under 14 Metro at Whalley next year, is of greater importance during a National Year and we are only demanding a fair and objective panel to oversee this issue.
In closing, we are not asking for any special treatment etc, but only fairness and board members thinking in the interest of kids. Our son's are devoted to the sport of soccer and have spent many years developing their skills. They have already suffered greatly this year, as our coach Sukhi took a year off. They have travelled to many areas in BC, Washington, and Oregon and brought much respect to our club, province and country.
As parents, we ask for your intervention in dealing with this matter with logic and sensitivity. Dirty politics, abuse of process and manipulating the rules have no room in youth sports.
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