Lumumba highlights major reforms as he commences bid for GFF Presidency

May 08, 2011 Sports

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By Michael Benjamin
Muted whispers supported by an earlier article in another section of the media suggesting that President of Alpha United FC, Odinga Lumumba, was preparing to contest for the prestigious seat at the helm of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) was confirmed yesterday morning when the Alpha United boss convened a press conference at the Waterchris Hotel, Waterloo Street Georgetown, to unveil plans and projections leading up to the GFF Annual General Meeting scheduled for Friday May 27.
Mr. Lumumba expressed gratitude to the many affiliates that had demonstrated faith in his administrative prowess and said that he accepted the nomination based on a staunch belief that football is in dire crises. He said that if the sport is to move forward there must be changes at the administrative level to facilitate this change. He further pointed out that his ambitions were not inspired from a confrontational perspective with the incumbent President, Colin Klass, but to foster betterment in the sport. “After fifteen years at the helm with no tangible evidence of improvement Mr. Klass should accept the realities and humbly step down,” said Lumumba.
In support of his views Lumumba drew attention to the minimal football activities outside of Georgetown and the Upper Demerara Sub Associations. He pointed out that barring these two regions, football activity is
minimal at one end of the continuum and non existent at the other. “Take for instance the Lady Jags; this team comprises foreign based Guyanese players yet Mr. Klass boasts of a functioning local women’s football association,” lamented Lumumba. He said that once he successfully ascends to the presidency seat he will aspire to foster changes for the betterment of local ball weavers.
“There is a need to energize the respective associations and if I had my way I would cut the administrative costs by fifty percent and utilize that fund to bolster the kitties of the respective sub-associations,” explained Lumumba.
He also said that football is now conducted in a businesslike manner and as the president of the GFF he would be cognizant of this. “Economics and employment are the two key variables in the sustenance of the sport and I believe that the time has arrived for Guyana to initiate a professional league,” exhorted Lumumba. He assured that such a ploy would create employment for over five hundred players and administrators which in the end would reflect positively on the local football fraternity.
Turning his attention to the inner workings of the governing body, Lumumba suggested a working partnership with football executives and officials of the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport (MCYS). He feels that such a harmonious relationship would open avenues for opportunities for young footballers. “Officials of the GFF and those of the MCYS could work in tandem where after identifying coaching personnel GFF officials could receive support from the Ministry towards the success of the identified initiatives,” suggested Lumumba. He also feels that the Ministry of Education is another important stakeholder and their involvement in the developmental mix should not be taken casually. He further posited that the support rendered by the school system could bolster the players’ performance on the field through the acquisition of education. “We have seen the results of poor mathematical prowess where players are unable to employ such strategies to gauge distances and angles to maximize scoring opportunities.
The vociferous Lumumba next turned his attention to those club administrators that procure funding from FIFA and other international football bodies after they would have traveled overseas on assignments. “They must donate some of this money to the local clubs because from the very inception it was through their affiliation to these clubs that doors are open for international duty and subsequent opportunities,” posited Lumumba. He believes that these officials ought to inculcate a sense of gratitude and give back some of this money to the local clubs.
He also noted that promoters of local competitions, mentioning the Kashif and Shanghai and Mayor’s Cup, must give back to the sport.  He informed that under his leadership if a promoter cannot significantly give back to the sport then they will be barred from staging these money making tournaments.
Directing his attention to electoral matters Lumumba disclosed that the picture appears a bit murky presently since the GFF is still to clarify the voting criteria and eligibility. He is calling on the officials of the GFF to clearly outline the clubs that are eligible to vote and in the case of those debarred from the procedure the affiliates should be informed of the reasons for such ineligibility.
But should he succeed in his bid, where will Lumumba acquire the requisite funding to propel the sport forward? “As the president of Alpha united, I have demonstrated the administrative ability to get things done,” boasted Lumumba.
He reminded of his input into the Alpha FC where he had taken a group of virtually disparaged footballers and molded them into the mean machine they currently are. “Even in these troubled economic times I still manage to input approximately 4 million dollars a year into the development of Alpha FC. I believe that I have the savvy to garner support from the corporate community to implement the requisite programmes,” Lumumba pointed out.
As D-day looms, Lumumba is applying the finishing touches to the document with which he plans to instigate the appropriate changes for local football development. Other than the regularization and empowerment of the clubs, Lumumba’s dreams are to see this country emulate sister Caricom state Jamaica and qualify for the World Cup. “I visualize that if we commence preparations now we could have a formidable team for the 2018 World Cup,” he projected.
“Once given the mandate to rule I would select a team of about 100 top players from among the clubs to commence preparations for the 2018 World Cup,” he assured. However, amidst all the projections and speculations, Lumumba must wait for the AGM and hope that the electorate buys into his plans and projections. “I am confident that good sense would prevail and if it does, I will ascend to the presidential seat after the elections,” professed a confident Lumumba. For now he would have to wait on the voters to buy into his manifesto.

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