Alpha United President and Presidential Advisor on Empowerment Odinga Lumumba has been appointed General Secretary of Georgetown Football Association (GFA) until the entity’s next election following a GFA General Council Meeting at the Sleepin International Hotel, Brickdam yesterday.
Seen as a controversial figure to many within football fraternity, Lumumba received eight out of a possible 11 votes from the GFA General Council and will now occupy the post left vacant following the resignation of Christopher Matthias following Matthias’s successful challenge for the Guyana Football Federation post of president.
The GFA council comprise representatives of the 16 clubs plying their trade under the association’s banner. Eleven out of the 16 clubs were present at the meeting with eight exercising their franchise in favour of Lumumba.
Those eight clubs were Fruta Conquerors, Camptown, Santos, Alpha, Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Western Tigers, Black Pearl and Northern Rangers while Beacons, Flamingo and Houston Stars abstained from the voting process. Absent at the gathering were University of Guyana (UG), Georgetown Football Club (GFC), Pele, Guyana Police Force (GPF) and Riddim Squad.
GFA President Major Vernon Burnett during an invited comment stated while the constitution affords the executive the power to appoint an individual to fill any vacancy that exists within the executive structure, a decision was unable to be reached within the body as to who would be a suitable individual to fill the vacancy.
“I believe in following rules and procedures as the constitution do speak of giving the executives the power to sit and appoint someone. However the executives were unable solve this matter as it was on the table for a month now. Based on this fact it was taken to the GFA General Council and Mr. Lumumba indicated his willingness to serve,” added Burnett.
According to Burnett while other candidates did signal their interest in the post nothing had materialized.
“Some clubs felt that we should look within the fraternity to the fill the position,” he said.
Questioned about the expectations surrounding Lumumba’s tenure, Burnett stated ….“Give him the opportunity to deliver on his mandate and make a positive contribution. He brings a wealth of experience and I hope he shares it with the membership of Georgetown in the development of football in the association and in Guyana as a whole.”
