PRESIDENT of the Guyana Football Federation, Colin Klass, recently endorsed the appointments made for the restructuring of the Upper Demerara Football Association, to fill longstanding vacancies.
The new faces which comprise the new UDFA structure include United States-based Lindener Garth Nelson (Jr), Member of Parliament Vanessa Kissoon and Youth and Sport Officer of Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice) Quame De Jonge.
The new executives are 1st Vice-President Wainwright Bethune, 2nd Vice-President Garth Nelson, 3rd Vice-President Uborn Smith, Secretary Beverly McDonald, Assistant Secretary/Treasurer DeJonge, Treasurer Kevin Craig, Public Relations Officer Reuben Stoby and Committee Members Mayfield Taylor-Trim and Kissoon.
Klass led a team of GFF officials, including General Secretary Noel Adonis and Organising Secretary Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major, when he addressed concerns of the clubs about the new names to that body before stamping his governing body’s approval.
The Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA), in its effort to better execute its mandate, had appointed several persons to fill vacant positions for office-bearers on its executive committee but this was questioned by some clubs.
There were some nine new executive members who were officially installed and Klass told the new members that football administration is hard work with little reward or praise.
He cautioned the office-bearers to be committed for the development of the game in the mining town. The federation will support the will to resuscitate the regional body and Klass added “we are willing to assist as we have started to indicate quite clearly today, to work with sponsors because sponsorship in the entire Guyana has dwindled”.
Linden is no exception to the rule but recently a number of sponsors have signalled to the federation that they are coming back on board and according to the GFF president “we really applaud that, and welcome it and Linden will benefit from some of those sponsors that recognise football is an excellent vehicle for any product”.
The GFF’s head said that meeting with the clubs “clearly indicate to me that Lindeners and the people of Linden are prepared to rally round the football fraternity towards ensuring that Linden returns to its former glory. I think there is where it hurts, when you know you experience the highest level, then it seems as though things aren’t going that way”.
