… Clubs to lose membership with GFF

THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has commenced efforts to reintegrate the Pele Football Club and the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) into the activities of the Georgetown Football Association (GFA), following their relegation from the Elite League.
The two clubs, along with Alpha United and Slingerz FC, were relegated to the GFA and the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA), after their refusal to participate in the second edition of the STAG Elite League, calling the GFF’s move to add Victoria Kings and Linden’s Topp XX undemocratic and unconstitutional.
The GFF is of the contention that Pele and GFC will become registered members of the GFA and participate in the activities of the same.
However, the GFF constitution lists the aforementioned clubs as members of the federation among the 22 affiliates, but GFF president Wayne Forde said “that will be changed soon”.
Constitutionally, the four clubs, despite being relegated, are still members of the GFF, according to the Article 9 and 10 of the GFF constitution.
The GFF constitution (Article 9:1.2.3) states “the Congress shall decide whether to admit, suspend or expel a Member. (2) Admission may be granted if the applicant fulfils the requirements of the Federation. (3) Membership is terminated by resignation or expulsion. Loss of membership does not relieve the Member from its financial obligations towards the Federation or other Members, but leads to cancellation of all rights in relation to the Federation.”

Forde, speaking with Chronicle Sport yesterday when asked about the teams being both members of the Association and the GFF, explained, “We’re (the GFF), awaiting word from FIFA and CONCACAF with regard to the clubs’ membership (with the GFF) and that’s expected in the coming week.”
After the teams had withdrawn from participating in the STAG Elite League, the GFF used Article; 13,1a and 13,1c of the constitution to validate their relegation.
Article 13, which speaks of Members’ Obligation, states members are required to “comply fully with the Statutes/Constitution, regulations, directives and decisions of FIFA, CONCACAF and the Federation at all times and to ensure by a statutory clause that these are also respected by its Affiliates; b) to ensure the election of its decision-making bodies at least every four years; c) to take part in competitions (if applicable) or other sporting activities organised/approved by the Federation.”
The next major activities of the Association are the GFF/Pele Alumni Frank Watson National U-15 tournament and the GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National U-17 tournament – the latter scheduled to begin this weekend.
These competitions will afford the youth players from the respective clubs the much-needed opportunity to be engaged in active football.
Further, the senior team will be allowed to participate in the Association’s tournaments and compete to regain their position in the STAG Elite League.