The calm before the storm ….five days to ‘D’ Day

THE much anticipated elections of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF),slated for this coming Saturday November 14th at the Cara Lodge on Quamina Street, continues to attract debates of varying tangents among the stakeholders of the ‘Beautiful Game’ here in Guyana.The common call among all the variables being reasoned is the need for Integrity and Unity in the new dispensation of governance of a sport which is crying out loud for change after decades of abuse. It is indeed ironic that the two slates contesting what many consider the most important elections of the GFF have chosen to name their slates – Team Integrity and Team Unity.
All three of the top positions of the Wayne Forde led Team Integrity, according to a member of Unity were on the slate of Team Unity originally. If this information is true then Unity did well to rebound from such a hard blow to even come up with a slate to contest the elections.

Wayne Forde
Wayne Forde

Further to this the inside informer confidently stated that Team Unity would prevail by a landslide margin on ‘D’ Day.
In conversation with the members of Team Integrity it was revealed that there was never any commitment to Team Unity while admitting that there was some dialogue with the principal architects behind Team Unity but not to the extent of giving support to Team Unity in any way, shape or form.
One can only imagine the bitter taste when it was learnt that the confirmed composition of Team Integrity is inclusive of the much touted trio.
Attorneys-at Law Nigel Hughes and Mark Waldron were sought and they agreed to be a part of the Unity slate to set up the showdown with Integrity.
Neither of these goodly gentlemen have any vested interest in football but surely their track record would show they have been investing time and money with underprivileged people, hence one would assume it was not a hard decision for either to make.
They both have good corporate connections which will positively serve the sport definitely. The big question for both men is – Do you honestly have the time needed to devote to football? The one assurance both men must be cognizant of is that the landscape of the Sport is not an easy one.
On the opposite side, Presidential Candidate Forde is very much acclimatised to the environment having been involved at the Administration level for 18 years.
The charismatic and well respected Forde has a proven successful record in football administration loaded with Integrity and for that reason, among all reasons he has carefully chosen men of the same ilk to form part of his executive.
Forde’s vision and passion for the empowerment of the sport is undeniable and judging from his campaign approach he is confidently pursuing his dream to make a much needed change in the way the ‘Beautiful Game’ is governed in Guyana.
The ascendency to the throne of governance of the world’s richest sport here in Guyana is expected to be accompanied by effective changes which have already began under the FIFA installed Normalisation Committee (NC).

Nigel Hughes
Nigel Hughes

The adoption of a new Constitution for the GFF and members was the first real impacting change of the sport under the Clinton Urling led NC. The two contesting slates have vowed to keep their campaigns clean ‘for the good of the game’ and so far they have been true to their word as they continue to meet with members of the 22 eligible voters.
All members, with the exception of Pele FC, have completed their respective elections in order to be able to cast their votes on ‘D’ Day. It has been reported that Pele FC is set to hold elections this coming Wednesday.
For some strange reason the past week was very noticeably calm in the daily Print Media on the run up to this important day. Will it continue this last week of campaigning or will the two teams come out firing on all four cylinders? I rather suspect both sides are preoccupied with outreach meetings with voting members across the diverse landscape of Guyana’s football.
Team Integrity appears to be well organised in their campaign approach and strategy while Team Unity is seemingly putting the final touches together and with their leader due back in the country one can expect the campaign trails to be lit up this last week.
From the standpoint of John Public, based on interaction, Team Integrity holds the edge going into this final home stretch so one can expect a close finish at the line though Team Unity will differ.

By Ras Wadada

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