Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 01, 2014 Sports
Just when it seems appeared as though local football has reached its lowest ebb and could not possibly get any worse,
several members of the (GFF) General Council convened yesterday morning at the Water Chris Hotel, Waterloo Street, and successfully moved a no confidence motion against Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President, Christopher Matthias and his Vice President, Keith O’Jeer. They have installed first Vice President, Ivan Persaud to fill Matthias’ post in the interim, while the other members of the IMC will be named later.
Those sharing the head table were President of the Women’s Football Association, Vanessa Dickenson, Secretary of the East Bank Football Association, Franklyn Wilson, General Secretary of the Georgetown Football Association, Odinga Lumumba and President of the Referee’s Council, Alfred King.
Several other high leveled football officials were also at the forum and supported the motion. Among them were representatives of West Demerara FA, East Bank FA, East Coast FA, GFA, Referee’s Council, the Coaches’ Association and the Woman’s Football Association.
The decision comes on the heels of an Ordinary Congress held at the Regency Suites Hotel late April where a similar no-confidence motion was moved. An agreement was reached for the GFF and the displeased associations to meet within 45 days to reconvene the Congress with the aim of reaching common ground on the contentious issues. Those that convened at yesterday’s meeting are contending that the time has expired and after there was no affirmative action from Matthias, they decided to move ahead with the no confidence motion.
Matthias was notably absent from the meeting but officials stated that a letter was personally dispatched to him. The group has outlined several reasons for their decision to call for Matthias’ head including the misuse of funds and the lack of accountability among others. They also accused Matthias of operating in contravention of the articles of the constitution. The group further said that they were adhering to the statutes of the constitution which give them the powers to carry the motion.
Mr. Wilson said that June 1 had been tentatively identified as the date when affiliates should have reconvened but that specific date was not assertively decided upon. He said that the decision of the aggrieved group would be
forwarded to FIFA and CONCACAF for ratification and guidance.
Meanwhile, Mr. Lumumba referred to the occasion as historic and a positive move for the sport. “Football has suffered for over 20 years for a variety of reasons despite our best effort to move the sport forward,” said Lumumba. He said that he has been among those agitating for a change from the former administration but is now forced to admit that the change appeared not to be for the good of the sport.
The composition of the entire Interim Management Committee will soon be released but officials have said that it will reflect proportional representation of all of the affiliated bodies.
Matthias had successfully averted an earlier attempt to remove him through similar means during an Ordinary Congress late April at the Regency Suites Hotel. Six associations had staged a walkout after failing to win a majority following a vote to determine whether the issue of the no-confidence should be entertained; the vote had ended in a 9-9 stalemate.
The decision to reconvene at a later date was endorsed by the CONCACAF team of observers which included Director of Legal Affairs Marco Leal, FIFA Developmental Officer Howard McIntosh and CONCACAF Legal Advisor Bruce Blake.
The newly formed IMC group has since said that a letter would be dispatched to Matthias informing him of the decision taken by members of the General Council, while the newly formed group is expected to convene and plan the way forward soon.
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Apr 19, 2024
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