ODINGA Lumumba, the president of Guyana’s number one football club Alpha United last Saturday hosted a press conference at the Water Chris Hotel, where he publicly announced his intentions to contest the presidential seat of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF). Lumumba expressed gratitude to the many affiliates that had demonstrated faith in his administrative prowess and said that he accepted the nomination for the May 27th elections, based on a staunch belief that football is in dire crisis.
Outlining his manifesto to take Guyana’s football forward, Lumumba said changes must be made at the administrative level, stating that his ambitions to become the president were not inspired from a confrontational perspective with the present president Colin Klass, but rather to foster betterment in the sport.
“After 15 years at the helm with no tangible evidence of improvement, Klass should accept the realities and humbly step down” said Lumumba, who supported such a view by drawing attention to the minimal football activities outside of Georgetown and the Upper Demerara Sub-associations (UDS).
Lumumba used the Lady Jaguars line up as a perfect example of minimal football activities outside of Georgetown and the UDS, saying “The Lady Jaguars team comprises foreign based Guyanese players, yet Klass boasts of a functioning local women’s football association.”
Lumumba promised to foster changes for the betterment of local ball weavers, once he ascends to the stewardship of the GFF at the upcoming elections.
“There is a need to energize the respective associations and if I had my way I would cut the administrative costs by 50 percent and utilize that fund to bolster the kitties of the respective sub-associations,” explained Lumumba.
He assured that such a ploy would create employment for over 500 players and administrators which in the end would reflect positively on the local football fraternity and turning his attention to the inner workings of the governing body, Lumumba suggested a working partnership with football executives and officials of the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport (MCYS).
He continued to state, “Economics and employment are the two key variables in the sustenance of the sport and I believe that the time has arrived for Guyana to initiate a professional league. Officials of the GFF and those of the MCYS could work in tandem where after identifying coaching personnel GFF officials could receive support from the Ministry towards the success of the identified initiatives.”
He also feels that the Ministry of Education is another important stakeholder and their involvement in the developmental mix should not be taken casually, while positing that the support rendered by the school system could bolster the players’ performance on the field through the acquisition of education.
The vociferous Lumumba then turned his attention to some club administrators that procured funding from FIFA and other international football bodies after they would have travelled overseas on assignments.
“They must donate some of this money to the local clubs because from the very inception it was through their affiliation to these clubs that doors are open for international duty and subsequent opportunities.”
He also noted that promoters of local competitions, including both the Kashif and Shanghai and Mayor’s Cup tournaments, must give back to the sport, informing that under his leadership, if a promoter cannot significantly give back to the sport then they will be barred from staging these money making tournaments.
Directing his attention to electoral matters Lumumba disclosed that the picture appears a bit murky presently since the GFF is still to clarify the voting criteria and eligibility and is calling on the officials of the GFF to clearly outline the clubs that are eligible to vote and in the case of those debarred from the procedure, the affiliates should be informed of the reasons for such ineligibility.
Asked to outline his intentions of acquiring sponsorship for tournaments if he succeeds in his bid to become president of the GFF, Lumumba responded by saying, “As the president of Alpha United, I have demonstrated the administrative ability to get things done.”

He reminded of his input into Alpha, where he had taken a group of virtually disparaged footballers and molded them into the mean machine they currently are today.
“Even in these troubled economic times, I still manage to input approximately GS4m a year into the development of Alpha FC. I believe that I have the savvy to garner support from the corporate community to implement the requisite programmes needed at the GFF,” Lumumba pointed out.

“Once given the mandate to rule I would select a team of about 100 top players from among the clubs to commence preparations for the 2018 World Cup,” he assured. “I am confident that good sense would prevail and if it does, I will ascend to the presidential seat after the elections,” professed a confident Lumumba.