D-DAY Saturday, November 14, 2015 is fast approaching as members continue to put their house in order so as to be able to cast their votes in what is now being considered Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) most important elections in its over 100 years of existence.Over the last year ‘The Beautiful Game’ here in Guyana was under the direction of a Normalisation Committee (NC) appointed and installed by the world governing body FIFA after dissolving the Christopher Matthias-led administration.
The two chief mandates that the Clinton Urling-led NC received from FIFA were to establish and adopt a new Constitution for the GFF and its members and to conduct elections for a new Executive Committee.
The GFF’s new Constitution was adopted at a Congress held in the City on June 26, 2015 and the significant change is an increase in membership with eight Elite Clubs being accorded full-member status along with nine Regional associations and five Affiliate members.
All 22 members were mandated to adopt a new Constitution as provided by the NC and hold elections as part of the criteria for eligibility to vote at the upcoming elections. This weekend the voting intensifies with five members holding elections.
Today, (Saturday October 17) City clubs will convene to elect a new executive for the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) and likewise the Essequibo Coast and Pomeroon Football Association. Elite Club Fruta Conquerors FC, Bartica Football Association and the Referees Council will go to the polls tomorrow (Sunday 18th).
In an invited comment, General Secretary of the GFF, Diedre Davis says the NC is ready for the task at hand, “It will be a busy weekend for the NC, but we will be ready. We are happy with the support we continue to enjoy from the stakeholders of football – Media, Clubs and Fans. I think it is something everyone was looking forward to,” Davis stated.
The Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) and Alpha United are the only members of the GFF who have completed the process of putting their house in order. The deadline for holding elections is October 30 while the closing date for slates to contest the November 14 GFF elections is October 24.
Among those challenging this weekend for top positions is Maxine Stewart who is tipped to head the Essequibo FA.
Wayne Forde who has been at the helm of elite club Fruta Conquerors for over three years is also expected to become president.
Word emanating from the Referees camp is that a new leader will be elected while the GFA is a two-slate competition between the Matthias and Hicken factions.