THE outgoing executive director of the Central City Breakers Football Club (CCB), which is currently under suspension by the South District Girls’ Soccer Association (SDGSA) and Surrey Metro Soccer Association (SMSA), is asking the British Columbia Soccer Association to intervene so its 2,800 members can play soccer next season.
The suspended soccer club must be a member of SDGSA and SMSA in order for its players to participate in any BC Soccer sanctioned leagues and events. The Central City Breakers is scheduled to appear for a SDGSA disciplinary hearing to deal with allegations of financial irregularities on Tuesday, August 11. The SMSA hearing is scheduled for Thursday, August 13.
In an open letter to BC Soccer posted on the Central City Breakers’ website, executive director Garry Sangha says the club followed accepted practice in having its players participate in a non-sanctioned league and moving funds to a non-sanctioned club to enable players to participate in summer soccer.
He alleges the SDGSA Chair of Discipline, Elvin Picardo, who signed the letter suspending the Central City Breakers, was a director of the Guildford Athletic Club when it did exactly the same thing in signing cheques to the non-sanctioned Pacific Eagles Athletic Society to enable its players to participate in United Summer Soccer League (USSL) soccer.
For the years 2013 and 2014, the Central City Breakers had a similar agreement with BC Tigers Sports Club, GN Sporting Club and Vancouver United to move its registered players to these clubs signing over $300,000.
Sangha says Central City Breakers stopped all association with the BC Tigers Sports Club. Players then began playing in the USSL under three clubs: Vancouver United, Akal FC and Canadian Eagles with registration fees paid directly to them.
He is asking BC Soccer to intervene to have both suspensions lifted pending a hearing where his club will present all the facts. “We have done nothing wrong as all decisions have been consistent with general practice,” he says.
“We would like to take this opportunity to state that the main purpose of Central City Breakers FC is to give 2,800 kids the opportunity to play soccer and this is a goal we will continue to invest in. We sincerely hope that our members will be given the chance to return to what they love doing ahead of the new season.”
Central City Breakers is one of Surrey’s oldest and B.C.’s largest soccer club providing access to league soccer for youth and adult members.
Letter:
http://www.centralcitybreakersfc.com/ccbfc/images/AGM/Letter.pdf
