The Georgetown Football Association (GFA) has until Wednesday to instruct its attorney to meet with the attorney representing the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) or risk being removed from office according to President of Alpha United Football Club, Odinga Lumumba.
Lumumba in an exclusive interview with Stabroek Sport at the Waterchris Restaurant yesterday said that he summoned a meeting with clubs affiliated to the GFA to address the failure of the executive to execute the mandate of the General Council which was agreed to two Saturdays ago.
“The mandate of the General Council was for the executive of the GFA to direct the lawyer of the GFA to meet with the lawyer of the GFF to discuss the various issues that are causing the problems and to put a mechanism in place to bring a resolution of the issues so that the GFA can come back into fold with the GFF,” said Lumumba.
He said that by way of a telephone call he was informed by the attorney representing the GFA that no such directive was given to him by the executive of the group.
“And the President and General Secretary of the GFA are not returning calls and people cannot reach them. so the objective of this meeting is to do two things; the first we are going to give them until Wednesday to carry out the mandate of the General Council. Failure to do that we are going to call for a special meeting of the GFA to replace the present executive.”
According to Lumumba the meeting was called not only in the interest of his team Alpha United, but all football teams as it is possible that FIFA will ban Guyana from all international tournaments.
Asked whether his call will be supported beyond the four clubs excluding Alpha that attended yesterday’s meeting, Lumumba said he is not sure. He also could not say why the other clubs were not present, but said they were all invited.
Lumumba said that among themselves a committee was formed to act on their behalf. That committed is headed by the Secretary of Camptown Football Club, Akram Sabree.
Sabree also could not say if they will garner support for their plan, but said they will take it one day at a time before reaching to the stage of other clubs agreeing or disagreeing.
“The bottom line here is not to create further confusion but simply follow in a timely manner decisions taken.
The clubs present at yesterday’s meeting were, Santos, Camptown, Thomas United, Alpha United and Beacon.
Meanwwhile secretary of the GFA, Christopher Matthias, said that the GFA had written the Minister responsible for Sport Dr. Frank Anthony seeking to find out the status of the mediation process the minister commenced in December.
Following is the text of the letter.
“The executive committee of the Georgetown Football Association, an affiliate of the Guyana Football Federation, respectfully seeks to ascertain the status of the mediation process which you had professionally commenced in December, 2011, in order to resolve the impasse which currently exists between the Guyana Football Federation and the Georgetown Football Association.
As you are aware, at the second meeting of all the parties concerned, the issue was about to be amicably resolved by Mr. Frankte Wilson when Mr. George Rutherford interjected and instructed the latter to consult with the Guyana Football Federation’s attorney before committing the Guyana Football Federation to any resolution whatsoever.
As a result, the meeting concluded with all parties committing themselves to having this issue finally addressed at a subsequent meeting, upon the return of Mr. Frankie Wilson from his overseas commitment Regrettably, at the time of writing, the Georgetown Football Association has not been afforded the opportunity of any communication whatsoever with regards the aforementioned meeting and /or the continued involvement of your esteemed office in this process.
Please be assured that the Georgetown Football Association is comfortable with the skill and assiduity with which your office mediated in this matter, and remains committed to the issues agreed upon for the timely resolution of this issue.
We eagerly await information on the status of the mediation process.”
According to Matthis the GFA will meet Dr. Frank Anthony on Monday.
