The ongoing impasse between the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) and Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has attracted the attention of Sport Minister Dr. Frank Anthony who met separately with officials from the two bodies last evening.
This was disclosed by a source close to the GFA last night and acting president of the GFF Franklin Wilson said that the bodies met to discuss the way forward for the two organizations whose dispute has ended up in court.
Wilson did not elaborate on what transpired in the meeting.
Stabroek Sport, however, learnt from a source that one of the issues discussed was the likelihood of the GFA withdrawing its court case against the GFF.
The Court recently granted an injunction against the GFF preventing it from interfering in the adminsitartion of football in the city by the GFA.
However, the source yesterday maintained that the court case will only be withdrawn if the GFF should move to restore constitutional and voting rights to the GFA.
Following its annual general meeting which was attended by suspended general secretary of the GFF Noel Adonis, the GFF under banned president Colin Klass, ruled that the GFA would not have voting rights for the annual general meeting of the GFF which was scheduled to be held earlier this year.
The source indicated that the GFA has always wanted to mend fences with its governing body but said that there was never much compromise. It is hoped that this step by the minister will bring about the requisite turnaround between the two bodies.
On the other hand, the source also indicated that the tone was cordial and the minister’s aim is to quickly dissolve the feud between the parent body and its affiliate. Meanwhile, when asked if there were any discussions surrounding the Kashif & Shanghai and GFA/Banks Beer Knockout Cup football tournaments being run simultaneously on occasions, the source said that such information could not be divulged. The source noted though that the GFA will be going ahead with its tournament.
The GFA kicked off its inaugural Banks Beer Knockout Cup football tournament on December 10, the day after the 22nd edition of the Kashif & Shanghai tournament commenced. The rationale behind this move was to give banned Georgetown clubs that played in the GFA Super League a chance to play some football.
The GFA had called the banning of these clubs unfair and this prevented those teams from participating in the K&S competition. One of the teams that was prevented from playing in the K&S competition is defending champions Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United.
Meanwhile contacted for a comment Alpha United president Odinga Lumumba, who said that he was instrumental in arranging the meeting. Asked for a comment on the outcome of the meeting, Lumumba said that he could not say much apart from the fact that the discussion was aimed at ensuring that the two organizations can stage both tournaments.
He noted that clashes in the staging of the two tournaments will take place on December 28 and January 1, 2012.
Lumumba said he also met with the organizers of the Kashif and Shanghai tournament yesterday.
