WITH the recent adoption of a new constitution at the Extraordinary Congress of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) last Friday, Guyana emerged as forerunner in the way the world’s single largest spectator sport is run. FIFA’s Head of Member Association Primo Cavaro confirmed that there are several countries in the CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association of Football) zone that will have to go through the same process (Constitution Reform).
According to Cavaro, “We are going to do the same in Trinidad and Tobago, Puerto Rico is already in the process of doing it and we will start soon in other member associations.
“We have six confederations. CONCACAF is the one at the bottom I would say. It hasn’t really taken off as yet, but in Africa, for example, half of the member associations (there are 54), half of them, roughly 25 have adopted a new Constitution. So it’s a process that’s ongoing all over the world. In CONCACAF it has started and it is moving and I think here again we can bring about the example of where Guyana is.”
The biggest change between the old Constitution and the new one is the introduction of more voting members to ensure a holistic approach and inclusiveness of all stakeholders in the running of the country’s football.
Under the new Constitution the Regional Associations, namely the Bartica Football Association (FA), Berbice FA, East Bank Demerara FA, East Coast Demerara FA, Essequibo/Pomeroon FA, Georgetown FA, Rupununi FA, Upper Demerara FA and West Demerara FA represent the amateur divisions.
The Elite League will be represented by Alpha United, GDF, Slingerz FC, Pele, Fruta Conquerors, GFC, Buxton United and Monedderlust FC.
Interest groups will include the Guyana Football Coaches’ Association, the Guyana Football Referees’ Council, the Guyana National Women’s Football Association, the Guyana Futsal Association and the Guyana Beach Soccer Association.
Each member is entitled to one vote. The next step according to the Normalisation Chairman Clinton Urling “is to fan out to the various members, bring their Constitutions in line with the one recently adopted and then hold fresh elections to elect representatives. Once this is done, the Federation will host its Congress to elect fresh executives of the Federation, thus ending the life of the Normalisation Committee”.

By Stephan Sookram