Guyana Football Federation [GFF] President Wayne Forde has selected Upper Demerara Football Association [UDFA] boss Terrence Mitchell, as the newest member of his slate which will seek re-election at the entity’s Electoral Congress on Saturday November 9th.
This was disclosed by a source close to the federation. The incumbent slate comprises Forde [President], Bruce Lovell [1st Vice-President], Rawlston Adams [2nd Vice-President], Thandi McAllister [3rd Vice-President] and the five Executive Committee members Dion Innis, Ryan Farias, Mitchell, Carmel Williams and Magzene Stewart.
Mitchell replaces former Berbice Football Association [BFA] President Keith O’Jeer, after the latter was suspended in April 2018 for inappropriate behaviour.
The aforementioned group was nominated by East Bank Football Association [EBFA] President and former GFF Chief Franklyn Wilson.
According to the source, the Forde slate is the only group that will be contesting the polls which effectively renders the election a foregone conclusion, adding that previous instances of an incumbent administration being elected unopposed occurred during the Colin Klass reign.
The source added, “We have gone back to the Colin Klass days of instituting IMCs and putting in who you want to vote for you … What is even more ironic is that Wayne Forde was one of the persons while being a member of the GFA, who went to the courts to challenge Colin Klass’s authority to impose IMCs on any sub-association and yet he has done the same thing.”
Meanwhile, Ian Alves, Acting General Secretary of the GFF during a brief comment revealed that all the necessary documentation was sent to the respective members, adding, “It was sent to all of them, it was sent to the contact emails that we were using over the years.”
He further said that the information surrounding the election especially the composition of the possible slate is not for public knowledge, adding, “It is not prudent to disclose anything along to that line, the people who have to know, know and that is not public information.”
However, Orin Ferrier, President of the WDFA said, “There has been no official notification to me of any slate, I have no details of any slate from the GFF. No one has contacted us saying they will be running in opposition, no one has contacted the WDFA and we don’t know the makeup of any slate. We don’t know who is running whether opposition or incumbent.”
He further added, “With all the criticisms directed at the federation, I am surprised to know that no one is officially running for that position. I really don’t know. It seems strange to me, we have heard the criticisms but no one is standing up and being counted and giving an alternative view. Where all the people that has criticized the federation where are they now.”
Similarly, Director of Sport Christopher Jones in an invited comment said, “Essentially I am shocked because I am now hearing for the first time that the GFF is staging an election. I was not made aware of them hosting an elections.”
Jones added, “While it’s not mandatory that the NSC is informed, it’s somewhat expected. If you want you can call it basic protocol or common courtesy that a national body like the GFF would inform the NSC which is a part of the Government of Guyana as we have a working relationship. I guess the invitation is probably in the mail as I am completely unaware, this is news to me,”
