… GFF Congress reconvenes; no-confidence motion to be passed on GFF president

THERE could be more trouble brewing in Guyana’s football as two-thirds of the country’s highest decision-making body move ahead with the reconvening of what might be a controversial General Congress today from 10:00hrs at the Water Chris Hotel in Georgetown. 

Selective affiliates of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) namely, Georgetown Football Association, East Bank Football Association, East Demerara Football Association, National Association of Women’s Football, Guyana Football Referees Council and Guyana Football Coaches Association, who attended the GFF Congress of April 26, have all agreed to re-convene the congress within the stipulated 45 days deadline.
The deadline was brokered by an agreement that included CONCACAF representatives and agreed to by the Delegates and Executives of the GFF and the bona fide Delegation at the GFF Congress, in accordance with the understanding and decision taken at that Congress.
According to a release sent by the aforementioned GFF affiliates “the GFF president, all the members of the GFF as well as FIFA, CONCACAF and CFU have been duly notified of the date, time and venue for the Congress which will be held at the Water Chris Hotel from 10:00hrs on May 31, 2014”
But speaking to Chronicle Sport via telephone last evening, GFF president Christopher Matthias said that he’s unaware of a reconvening of Congress today and noted “the GFF has not set a date or venue for Congress and when we do, the entire nation will be informed, including FIFA/CONCACAF/CFU. This will be done in accordance with the Constitution”
The April 26 Congress came to an abrupt end after a heated exchange between members about the voting rights of the Linden and Georgetown Associations since the two are being run by an Interim Management Committee (IMC).
But the selective members of Congress said “as guided by the CONCACAF delegation that observed the aborted Congress, that the affiliates of the GFF meet and seek to resolve outstanding issues affecting them that resulted in the aborted Congress.
Members met with the GFF president in the GFF boardroom on Thursday May 15, 2014 but the meeting was not fruitful in dealing with issues including the illegal voting of IMCs”.
“The meeting with the GFF president came to an abrupt end due to the GFF president’s persistence in holding the view that the IMCs were legitimate in voting; this position is contrary to the GFF Constitution,” the release said, adding that the “GFF president held this position in order to sidestep the Motion of No-Confidence brought against himself and Executive Committee Member, Mr Keith O’Jeer.
Today’s Congress will see two/thirds (2/3) of the voting members of Congress move motions to get rid of both GFF president Christopher Mathias and his Committee member Keith O’Jeer.

(By Rawle Toney)