Dear Editor,
The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) successfully completed its Extraordinary Congress on Saturday 27th August 2022, which saw the adoption of a new constitution with over 50 new amendments. Amendments of which most of those who voted on behalf of associations and players they represent were unaware of those changes. Interestingly, it was stated by the GFF President that the process was transparent, and the members were well informed. This was not the case. Despite the aforementioned, the GFF’s 30/8/2022 circular to members was designed to seek validation even after the supposed successful Congress. Why? It would be interesting to discover how many of them who gave their blind support, were aware of the implications for the future governance of the game they supposedly love.
Editor, as was expected, and right on cue, the GFF ensured that one of its external governors (in a perfectly fitting suit) was present to sell the changes to the passive and unassuming congress, who in turn voted with a herd mentality and mob mindset. Guyana’s Football leaders! In spite of the majority’s action, it was quite refreshing to see the resoluteness of Buxton United and the East Demerara Football Association stance to defend the supremacy of the Congress, as they did not support the 2022 version of the GFF constitution. It is important to note that the conveners of Congress have already began to use the power prescribed in the 2022 Constitution, as observed when Buxton United was subjected to a less than 5-minute time limit on its presentation at the forum which seemed more like a party caucus, with no other member of this learned cabal, seemingly willing to query the status quo.
Is this some kind of omen? At this point no one really knows, but rest assured, history would judge the outcome of the strategy of the GFF council in its perceived aim to consolidate power. More importantly, was constitutional reform, in partnership with the marginalisation of independent thinkers such as Buxton United, utilised to initiate a multifaceted approach to consolidate power? Was the departure of the former technical director and women’s coach simply an earlier occurrence of such a reality? It is obvious that a weakened congress with smaller membership, slots neatly into the plan for a 3rd term. Remember, on that Saturday, 15 members cast their votes and nine of them are directly affiliated to the Executive. Interestingly, the amalgamation of this strategy has resulted in the Council [GFF Executive] having almost 50 per cent of the votes of Congress because the membership of the Congress has been reduced courtesy of the 2022 constitution. Thus, when the president said they were fully informed, one presumes he is speaking on the proximity of at least 9 votes. This is the 2023 proxy at play. A “Klass” playbook strategy to recycle mediocrity at any cost.
This is likely the real story behind the reduction of membership, the controlling of power to speak and vote, the fixed agenda and the removal of the mandatory date for congress, as is set out in the 2022 constitution. It is evident now why the GFF would abhor the activism of Buxton United which posits that the constitutional reforms were all aimed at consolidating power by the Executive. As far as can be deduced, there will be no increase in the amount and or quality of football played. The coaches at the academies who are owed for the last months would not receive their salaries any faster. This is all about power, and those who voted in favour last Saturday will in time see that local football will be the biggest loser. Editor, in the eyes of the GFF, the revision of the statutes transpired or that was staged to ensure there was a perception of transparency and good governance was well preformed. Funny though, how such ‘transparency and good governance’ now seem to mirror control. Who really is hoodwinking whom? Transparency seems almost a vestigial term for the GFF. No conjecture is required.
Let us therefore analyse the facts, a word which the GFF seem to continuously confuse with fiction. Why is the GFF so uncomfortable with scrutiny even after it got the new constitution passed? Let’s not be insulated from reality, much less facts. We have stumbled into a reality which abhors facts and justifiable scrutiny and glorifies mediocrity under the premise of rapport. It would be noteworthy as a clean start, for the GFF to publish all the amendments made to the constitution that the members unknowingly voted for and point out which were designed to improve governance. Editor, it is laughable how the GFF can send a clean copy of a revised constitution to members and not highlight the changes they want these non-lawyers to vote on. I guess, in 2022, this is what exemplifies good governance and transparency at the GFF, allegedly following FIFA and CONCACAF’s ringing endorsement. Editor, there continues to be secrecy as to who submitted what amendments. After all, the membership of the Statutes Revision Committee, which undertook the process, was never disclosed to the public. But it can be supposed to be ‘transparency and good governance’ at work.
Editor, it is fair to suggest, that in the interest of further transparency and good governance for the GFF to list the amendments submitted by each stakeholder and let’s see what was accepted. It’s time to stop repeating statements purportedly from FIFA and CONCACAF… they are not in Guyana to answer the questions the general populace is asking. It must also be noted that the media does not operate at the behest of the GFF executive, because the wider stakeholders of the game far outnumber the 15 delegates that voted for the 2022 constitution. Similarly, can the hallowed halls of Section-K, Campbellville explain to the nation how the rule to take away debating and voting rights of members who are late for congress, will work, and how it is transparent and good governance? Is this really of FIFA and CONCACAF? Members better hope traffic is not its usual nightmare on that day, or they will likely suffer this indignity. The public has a right to know how is having a static agenda for an ordinary congress improving transparency. How is removing the members’ right to ask for a secret ballot improving transparency, when some of the congress delegates are employed by the GFF? Why was the secret ballot not utilised to vote on the changes to the statutes at the congress? Was this another method to ensure loyalty, and possibly identify dissension?
Editor it is important to note, while FIFA and its subsidiary CONCACAF did supervise the process, they are not beacons of morality. They are not a moral compass. A simple analysis of their chequered past is instructive, and exposes their position on good governance, and transparency. Corruption was almost endemic to this entity that is now experiencing slow change. It is important to ask whether FIFA and CONCACAF have knowledge that the women’s tournament is stalled because of funding. They should also inquire why the academies are on autopilot because academy coaches were not paid for months. This is against the fact that both of these programmes were fully funded by FIFA. Where did the money go? Would the members who voted to give more power to the executive, tell Guyana when the boys U17 that is fully sponsored will commence in every association? FIFA and CONCACAF may be condoning much more than we think or are they too being bamboozled and hoodwinked?
Although one can concede that the annexation of Beach Football under the GFF seems plausible given its dormancy which is reflective of the leadership, why was Futsal also a victim of the same fate, given its overall frequency in comparison to the traditional format? Is this another avenue for control of a specific genre of teams, and players? Similarly Editor, why wasn’t the Referees Council, the Coaches Association and the Women’s Association in particular, also not incorporated under the federation’s wings? Is this a voting mechanism and security for future endeavours? The Women’s Association in particular is the worst administered entity in the discipline and has not staged or conducted a single noteworthy tournament, not one day advertisements or exercises in futility, without the auspices and aid of the GFF. Interestingly, the president of the Women’s Association was the chairman of the Revision Statutes Committee.
This is the identical individual who has served for several cycles, as the manager of the Lady Jaguars programme, the same national setup which was not paid match-day fees by the current administration for years, and was forced to write the First Lady, Arya Ali and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, highlighting the one-sided and unequal allocation of resources by the federation to the programme. If that doesn’t indicate and highlight a thoughtful administrator, nothing will. It is also alleged that the Coaches Association boss was also a member of the aforementioned body. There is no point in having a casual and convenient relationship with the truth. As the saying goes, “The devil was once one of God’s angels.” Oh what a tangled web we weave/when first we practice to deceive,’
Sincerely,
Eyon Wills
