President of the Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF), Lennox Shuffler stated yesterday that he is willing to remain at the helm of the GVF if a suitable presidential candidate is not forthcoming at its upcoming Annual General Meeting and Elections.
Speaking to Stabroek Sport yesterday, via telephone Shuffler explained that thus far there has been no indication by members of the GVF or the sub-association that they will be running for the position of president at the AGM.
The GVF’s quadrennial elections and AGM will be held in Berbice on Sunday at the Berbice High School.
Shuffler, whose presidency of the GVF has spanned two terms, said that members of the volleyball fraternity have requested that he retain the presidency to facilitate the smooth transfer of administrative duties to new executive members who will be elected at the AGM.
“The volleyball fraternity is requesting that I stay on, even if it’s not for the full four years” said Shuffler. The GVF president stated that members have indicated that they are willing to take the presidential post, but not immediately. He noted that the members are willing to take the position about a year into the new term. According to Shuffler he is willing to transfer the presidency to someone, identified by the electorate as a suitable candidate, after that one year period or at a later date if requested. “I’ve had a lot of calls from people asking me to remain and transfer knowledge to the new executives, and then probably transfer the position to a suitable person accepted by the electorate” said Shuffler.
Further, Shuffler highlighted that the move to remain president will also be beneficial to the GVF since the federation is currently in a rebuilding process, which has recently started, and is now rising from a weak point.
“It’s unfair to step down when the GVF is weak. I’m sure, if given the support, that volleyball can make a great impact within 2011” said Shuffler. He added that the GVF is currently working towards raising the standard of volleyball, since the sport was on the decline for a number of years but has recently been revived with the hosting of a number of tournaments within the last eight months. He stated that the GVF wishes to continue this progress throughout the next term. “Over last two years [prior to the recent tournaments] there was not a great amount of activity from the association and the federation. That is the obvious reason for the decline – lack of activities among associations, hence lack of federation activities” admitted Shuffler.
On a positive note Shuffler stated that the events over the last eight months, which included the resuscitation of the Berbice Volleyball Association sparked “great hope”.
“There were disappointments, but hope over last eight months… I look forward to the period after the elections with great hope” said Shuffler.
