“I am not aware of a one third decision being made among the executives of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) agreeing to the hosting of an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) to discuss the fate of the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA).”Those were the words of embattled GFF vice-president and former national player Collie ‘Hitman’ Hercules, who was to his mind, slapped with an unconstitutional five- year ban by the GFF last Friday, after being involved with the UDFA that organised their Banks DIH GT Beer Cup final on New Year’s Day last.
“At the last Executive meeting of the GFF, we decided to hold annual Congress on April 26 but no agenda was decided on, so no way was the whole situation with the GFF and hosting of year end tournaments by its sub-associations was decided on,” said Hercules.
“The question I am asking everyone is ‘Who called the Extraordinary General Meeting?’ I am asking that because nobody knows who did and based on my knowledge, no decision was changed after the April date was set, as it relates to that meeting at the last Executive meeting.
“So when I got the communication to that effect, which I am saying is unconstitutional, I made enquiries and no one is aware of the one third decision being made among the executives to have the EGM called, not even the General Secretary,” said Hercules.
He said the way the GFF is being administered by its present president Christopher Matthias, would certainly place a huge grin on the face of former president Colin Klass, since the former has a dictatorial way in doing things.
“Decisions are being made without the impact of the entire executives of the GFF, including that EGM, which decided that I should be banned for five years and some other members of the UDFA punished as well.
Ask Mr. Matthias in his capacity as president of the GFF, who called the EGM and who set the agenda for that meeting,” questioned Hercules.
While he did not deny the importance of the issue as it relates to the subject matter at hand, meaning the UDFA playing off their Banks DIH GT Beer Cup final on New Year’s Day last was to be discussed, Hercules said the so-called penalized association would be fighting to the end to gain justification.
“We will be exhausting all avenues, even those that can be used legally, to gain justification not only for the UDFA and the people of Linden, but football in Guyana, as we are here to represent the clubs of Linden and to an extent the people who support those clubs, be they from Linden, Berbice or even Essequibo,” posited Hercules.

ADAMS
The 38 year old Hercules said former vice-president of the GFF Rawlston Adams, who was elected to serve in that capacity for the next four years at last year’s Annual General Meeting, which saw Matthias surviving three stiff rounds of voting to ascend into the presidency position, has resigned from the GFF prior to the hosting of the unconstituted EGM.
“The GFF is definitely in turmoil and many persons are unaware of this. Some may say that because I was handed this ban, that I am hanging the Federation’s dirty linen in public, but to be truthful, many things that come out of the GFF is not okayed by the executives of that body.
“Two members are presently out of the executive body in Adams, who resigned when told of the EGM being set for last Friday, after reminding those involved that it was not in keeping with the constitution of the GFF, and I, while an Association-UDFA-is under suspension, so what that tells you,” asked Hercules?
He is of the view, that the present GFF head is acting under the guidance of the Georgetown Football Association (GFA), since he makes decisions and pronounce on them off his own, then bring it to the Executive Council.
“I know of one instance among many, wherein he went to the General Council of the GFF on a position as it relates to the GFA, without the input of his Executives.”
Quizzed on his opinion on the way Matthias has been handling the day to day affairs of the GFF, Hercules said, “As I have said before, it is clearly a dictatorship attitude he is portraying and that is not what the electorate placed him there for.
I cannot say if it was worst when Mr. Klass was heading the GFF, since during Klass’ tenure I was a player and could not comment on the day to day affairs of the GFF from an administrative point of view. But being elected vice-president under Matthias, I have seen clearly his dictatorial attitude and it is not good for the sport.”
Hercules said many of the other executives are aware of this type of behaviour from Matthias but for reasons unknown, don’t wish to speak out, but he will, “no matter what”, because no one is bigger than any sport, even calling on Matthias to step aside based on a matter of ‘No Confidence’.
Written By Calvin Roberts