After 23 years, Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major has resigned from the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation which was built by himself and business partner, Kashif Muhammad.
Major was recently nominated to contest the post of president of the Guyana Football Federation at its upcoming annual general meeting on April 12 hence his decision.
“In the interest of the sport I have resigned from the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation to pursue the presidency of the GFF. It was painful but I had to do it since it would have been a conflict of interest”, Major said.
Asked who will take his place in the organization now that he has resigned, Major said that Muhammad will continue the running of the organization with support from their sons (sons of himself and Muhammad).
Addressing the political wrangling which the organization found itself in two years ago, Major said the Kashif and Shangahi Organisation did not have a political agenda.
“They had a political issue with Kashif and because Kashif (Muhammad) was a part of the organization; the organization ended up getting included but there was no political issue.”
He said that he is not involved in politics but said he is friendly with a number of politicians on both sides including Joe Harmon, David Granger, President Donald Ramotar and other politicians.
“Going forward I will accept assistance from those who have the funding. If the opposition has the funding that they could help; I will be seeking assistance from them. If the government says that they could help football then I will definitely be seeking assistance from them. So once there is funding I will be seeking it but I don’t have any political agenda.”
Speaking on the fallout between the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation and one of its major sponsors, Banks DIH over the contract with Ansa McAl, Major said that despite there being a falling out between the sides; he still remains friends with the directors and managers of the local beverage company. He said too that he is confident that he can garner support from them for the development of the game.
Presidential plans
If elected Major said he plans to pursue any avenue that will bring in sponsorship for the development of the sport but said that no preferential treatment will be given to any sponsor over another.
Major, one of the staunchest supporters of football locally over the years, said he was elated when he was approached to be a presidential candidate after Ansa Mc Al’s Troy Cadogan withdrew his bid.
According to Major he was always a part of that slate.
In fact, he said that he was in Puerto Rico when he received a call to join Cadogan’s slate to contest the GFF elections.
Some of the key players on his slate are relatively new to many in the football fraternity, but according to Major, they are not new to the sport as they would have been offering their support in the background. Those he referred to are Rawlston Adams and Aaron Fraser.
He said too that his decision to join the slate was because he believed that together they have a lot to offer and could do much for the development of the sport from a business point of view.
“I am happy and thankful to the West Demerara Football Association for nominating me and the Women’s association and the Bartica Football Association for seconding the nomination,” Major said.
The football enthusiast said with his passion for football he believes that he has a lot to contribute to the development of the sport.
“Anybody who knows me knows that I follow football. I follow the Golden Jaguars wherever they go. I spend my own money doing this.”
said that he knows and understands the plight of the players and will do his best to ensure that they are given the necessary support to develop themselves and the sport.
Relationship with sub
associations
Questioned on when he intends to start campaigning, Major said he started campaigning the day he was nominated as presidential candidate.
“I am one of the people who are friends with all the associations. I never had problems with any association; I always want to help out all the associations since I have a good relationship with all the associations,” he declared.
And it is through that relationship that he is certain that he has the support of a number of the associations.
“I know for sure that I have a good relationship with Bartica. I am from Linden and I would definitely support anything Linden has and the association (Upper Demerara Football Association) so I am certain that I will get support from Linden.
“I will get support from the women; I am sure I will get support from the coaches, I have confidence in the coaches. Mr. Dover has always been a guy that I supported right through his career in terms of making him go through with Jamaal Shabazz as one of his lieutenants in football because I think he was learning and making headway in the football fraternity.
“I even feel that Georgetown will support me. Christopher Matthias, when he realizes that he will not get into power, will support me. I have known him a long time since he was a Customs Officer.”
In all I think that I will be working with all the association to better the sport whether the associations support me or not.
Major, who is also the Organising Secretary of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) when asked about the lack of accountability at the federation said the federation does not have a lack of accountability, but said there is need for more sponsorship to develop the sport.
Addressing the concerns which were raised on the recent elections which saw Vanessa Dickenson returning as president, Major said he had enquired from Acting GFF President, Franklin Wilson and General Secretary Noel Adonis, both of whom said that the women’s elections were above board.
Apart from Major, the other candidates for the presidency of the GFF are Christopher Matthias and Alfred King.
The GFF elections are scheduled for April 12.
