By FRED STURRUP, NG Associate Editor

The Bahamas American Football Federation (BAFF) is an entity. This arm of the sport, based in Freeport, Grand Bahama, has been granted full membership status by the International Federation of American Football (IFAF).

When this happens, it means that the international organization is satisfied that the applicant has the kind of program that enhances the respective sports discipline nationally. This is exactly the case with the BAFF. Spawned really, from the great success of the Bahamas Youth Football program, the BAFF made representation to the IFAF earlier this year. The credentials were solid, so much so, that the IFAF granted temporary membership status prior to the congress when the relationship became official.

Standford Duhaney, a Grand Bahama native and spokesperson for Bahamas Youth Football and the BAFF told me the other day, however, that there is a particular dilemma that the sport faces in the country.

He informed that he received word from Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Desmond Bannister, that the youth arm of American Football could apply to the Ministry's Youth Section for assistance, but that the Ministry of Sports sees the Commonwealth American Football League as the country's umbrella body for the sport. The position is in keeping with word given by the Sports Division of the ministry prior to the recent Cabinet shuffle, that saw Minister Bannister moved to his present ministry.

This would mean of course that once again in Bahamian sports, there is a major impasse.

The Ministry of Sports might well not recognize the BAFF, but the international body does and that counts the most. It is indeed more significant because any Bahamian American Football team seeking to participate in regional and international competition, must do so through Duhaney and company. Ironically in the democratic system, central governments have no authority whatsoever over international sports organizations and their official members.

So, in American Football, we're right where baseball is.

The Bahamas Baseball Association remained the body recognized by the regional and international baseball authorities despite communications from the Bahamian Government through its Sports Ministry that the Bahamas Baseball Federation was considered the parent body of the sport. It never mattered to the International Baseball Federation what the Bahamian Government's position was then and now. The Bahamas Baseball Association still remains cemented as the big baseball power in the land. The influential Pan American Baseball Federation actually includes the BBA President as a member of its Executive Board.

Lots of communications have been sent to the IFAF, trying to block the acceptance of the BAFF, but as with baseball, the case could not be made. After perusing all of the factors, the letters and e-mails received and what the Grand Bahama applicants had done in fostering a wholesome program for the youth of the Northern Bahamas, it was actually an easy decision to allow membership status.

So yes, the BAFF is a member of the IFAF and not the CAFL.

This is another dicey local sports situation. It puts Minister Bannister in a quandary. If he advocates funds to the CAFL, the money will not scratch the surface in getting the maximum benefits for the sport. It will be funds that would boost only the New Providence program. Since the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture is for the entire country, such a scenario would not go down well with many Bahamians, particularly those of the Family Islands.

If on the other hand he signs off on funding for the BAFF, it would be a similar situation that would leave the CAFL personnel squawking. I wouldn't want to be in Minister Bannister's shoes on this one, not at all. But, here we go again.

It's an another sports controversy!