The Georgetown Football Association (GFA) is pushing for voting rights ahead of next Saturday’s Ordinary General Meeting of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) but the local governing body has turned down a request for a meeting to discuss the issue.
GFA Secretary Christopher Matthias had written to the GFF General Secretary Noel Adonis seeking a meeting with the GFA Constitutional Committee for Thursday last but Adonis said that the meeting could not be entertained at this time.
“Regrettably, I have to inform you that, due to conflicting schedules, the Executive Committee of the GFF will not be available to meet with your constitutional committee as requested. The Executive Committee has also noted previous correspondence from the GFF to the GFA, which provides guidance on the issue of constitutional rights,” Adonis stated in his letter to the GFA seen by Stabroek Sport.
Adonis did indicate that he was prepared to meet with the GFA Constitutional Committee yesterday at the GFF office but the GFA was not in favour of that meeting but is pushing to meet with the Executive Committee at an extra ordinary congress on or before next Thursday to iron out the constitutional issues.
The GFF Executive Committee has side-lined a few affiliates including the GFA citing improprieties and these affiliates were stripped of voting rights, but sources are of the view that the action was a deliberate attempt by the GFF to control the voting process.
The GFF Executive Committee has been meeting with affiliates ahead of the Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) where three positions, President, Vice President and Assistant Secretary (Executive Member) are up for grabs.
Sources say that these meetings are selective as the GFF Executive tries to shore up candidates ahead of the caucus set for the Ocean View International Hotel.
Insiders say that Klass, who has been at the helm for local football for the past 22 years is the lone candidate for the Presidency but there seems to be disharmony in the camp with outgoing Vice President of the GFF Franklyn Wilson, in an exclusive interview with Stabroek Sport, indicating that Klass can be upstaged if affiliates become more proactive.
Wilson’s comments came just days after some disenchanted football officials had expressed frustration with Klass serving another four-year term.
It was disclosed that Georgetown and Berbice sub associations have no voting rights, a position that the sources say is a deliberate attempt to derail the process of free and fair elections.
“Linden, another big sub-association also did not have voting rights but we are now being told that they can vote next Saturday because the President of the Linden sub-association and Klass are friends, an official told Stabroek Sport.
Apart from Klass’ nomination, it was disclosed that president of the Referees council Alfred King, East Coast President Aubrey Hudson and US-based football administrator Colin Baker had all signalled their intention to vie for the position of vice president.
The incumbent Assistant Secretary Aubrey “Shanghai” Major will be seeking another term but is likely to get a challenge from president of the Berbice Football Association (BFA) Keith O’Jeer.
