Georgetown Football Association (GFA) Secretary Odinga Lumumba said that in any democracy the people have the right to remove any leadership and as such, their position in removing Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President Christopher Matthias remains the same.
Speaking at a press conference held at the Water Chris Hotel by several associations and affiliates attached to the GFF, Lumumba said that the motion submitted at the congress for the removal of the President was supported by nine delegates and voted against by three.
“They were six phantom votes as three IMC’s were allowed to vote by the President and that was a breach. Never has that happened in the history of Guyana,” added Lumumba.
He noted that the 2010 minutes read from by the President at the GFF congress stating that an IMC voted in the ratification of the GFF constitution was a wrong and simply an error within a draft record.
Lumumba, who is also Presidential Advisor to Donald Ramotar said that several of the persons who were allegedly part of that 2010 forum have stated through sworn affidavits that they never voted or even participated at that meeting.
He said that attempts have been made to contact Matthias in the interim before the recommencement of the congress to try and solve the current issues but it has proved futile thus far.Guyana Football Referees Council (GFRC) President Alfred King said that their efforts as genuine stakeholders of the constitution and football is to ensure that the sport is properly administered.
He noted that the constitution highlights what is required to become members of the federation and the necessary responsibilities and rights that are expected and acquired respectively by such bodies.
“The entire football fraternity has lost confidence in the leadership of the sport. We are in a state of disrepute through bad administration. There is a non-existing executive governing in Guyana, rendering the sport at a standstill,” added King.
King said that the current administration acts without the guidance of the congress which is the supreme body of governance in the sport.
Ivan Persaud, Vice-President of the GFF said that the situation Guyana was currently in is not one that is conducive to football development and as such, that is the reason for the no-confidence motion again the GFF President.
Persaud said that he believes in using the constitution to solve any issues that arises and is committed to ensuring that the world governing bodies FIFA, CFU and CONCACAF don’t turn a blind eye to Guyana with regards to financial assistance.
He stated that working with the President is a very difficult task due to the fact that most of the executives are side-lined when it comes to the decision making. He noted that is one of the main reasons which led to GFF Vice President Rawlston Adams resigning from his post.
Wayne Dover, President of the Guyana Football Coaches Association (GFCA) said “The business of football should be governed properly by the national body and it has not been.”
Dover noted that the entity has struggled to meet its mandate of developing the sport from a technical, tactical and physical perspective due to its lack of financial support from the federation.
He further said “Various associations have received basic equipment and the teachers of the game have not received anything. We were asked to prepare a national development plan and there have been no implementation so far.
“We decided to support the motion because of these reasons. To leave us in the wilderness is very painful because we can’t carry out our mandate,” added Dover.
