… assures fans of early action
AFTER a year of dormancy, City football is set to kick-off early next year. At the recent elections of the Georgetown Football Association (GFA), Lieutenant Commander Vernon Burnett of the Guyana Defense Force was unanimously voted in as president of a virtually new executive committee of the GFA, defeating Gordon Gilhius for the top position.
The only past executive member elected to serve is the Honorary secretary, Christopher Matthias who is a past president of the-then Georgetown Football League (GFL).
The December 4 elections held at Olympic House on High Street also elected the three vice presidents – Ivor Thompson, Mark Phillips and Kubina Griffith; treasurer – Dexter Schultz and the assistant secretary/treasurer – Fiona Hamilton. President of the Cycling Federation, Hector Edwards was the Returning Officer.
In an exclusive interview with Chronicle Sport, Burnett expressed readiness for the challenges of administrating the sport in Georgetown, the livewire of Guyana’s football.
“Indeed it is a challenge to the new executive of the GFA, seeing that football has not been played in the City over the last year. We see it as a challenge and we are very willing and ready to take up that challenge.
It is our vision to have all stakeholders involved, including the Clubs. We intend to have all on board in order to have football revitalised and to get football moving in the City again,” the Lt Commander declared.
The unassuming former Linden player also divulged the GFA’s immediate plans, “There is a short-term as well as a long-term plan. The short term plan is to have organised football visible in the City again. We will start after the Transfer Window is closed at the end of January.
The first competition will involve all the properly constituted teams of the GFA as they compete in a one-round League where there will be a winner in every game, including stalemates which will be decided by penalty kicks. Both teams will earn a point each with the winner of the shoot-out gaining an extra point.
The teams to contest the Premier and Division One Leagues will be determined at the completion of the League which will be used as the measuring stick. The long-term plan is to provide for fans quality and competitive Leagues as well as KO Tournaments throughout the season”
The 35-year-old Coast Guard Officer also highlighted the concerns of his new executive with regard to club structure and general administration of Clubs, “The main reason why football was dormant over the year is because of poor club structure and administration. It is certainly our biggest concern and we will be working with the clubs to ensure that they are properly constituted and that there is some semblance of order in the administration of the club’s affairs.
“The one-man show in running clubs, which existed in the past, will not be tolerated by this new executive,” the Lt Commander promised.
The new Executive has been busy with their planning since assuming office and a positive response has come from one of Guyana’s top corporate entity.
“We have already made contact with some of our potential sponsors. Only recently we had a meeting with GT&T and they are very much on board with the Premier League and have also hinted their intentions of sponsoring other competitions.
“Sponsorship is not only a concern for the GFA, but also for the clubs and we would like, in any way we can, to assist them in getting sponsorship. This has been a burning issue for most clubs and we intend to give all the help we can.
“All clubs affiliated to the GFA will have to include youth programmes in their structure. Quite recently the GFF made it clear that for clubs to be involved in the sport there must be a youth arm of the club. We think this is an excellent move and we will support it 100%.
“We will also be seeking sponsorship for competitions and programmes as it relates to the development of Youth football, since we think this is the answer for meaningful development of football,” the new president emphasised.
Burnett admitted that communications so far with the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) have been positive. “We have been in constant communication with the GFF since being voted into office and only two weekends ago we attended the last General Council meeting for the year.
“Yes, our relationship with the GFF has started on a positive note and we hope to keep it that way. The GFF has already given its commitment to shoulder the responsibility of paying for the rental of an office and a staff and for that we are very happy.”
In extending warm and festive greetings to all stakeholders of the sport in the City the Lt. Commander is urging fans and clubs to be ready, “I believe fans and players are eagerly awaiting the return of football to the City so we intend to provide a well-organised and comprehensive season of football. Just look forward to an exciting programme in 2011.
“We intend to bring lively and exciting football to the City and we look forward to your support. We feel that for us to succeed we must involve all parties. However, our watchwords will be ‘Organisation and Discipline’, the president concluded.