‘D’ DAY for the much awaited elections in the history of the Nation’s football is finally here. Sometime after noon today there will be an eruption of joy and celebration at the Marriott Hotel in Kingston, when the official winner of the two-slate race for governance of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) is announced.After weeks of intense campaigning among the 22 eligible voting members of the GFF, both slates – Team Integrity and Team Unity – are confident of prevailing at the polls and this has triggered much more interest and debating within the stakeholders of the ‘Beautiful Game’, not only here in Guyana but also abroad and on Social Media .
Indeed there have been direct character attacks on some of the candidates, some justifiable while some are totally false.

The leadership qualities of both presidential candidates are unquestionable, but there are members on both slates that have been continuously questioned by stakeholders.
In fact, the calls for Team Unity to revisit and rethink their slate if they hope to triumph took some effect two days ago when a particular candidate announced that he was shifting position, which of course is not permissible.
The way to go is to withdraw and not to create distractions, if you are sincere.
This particular candidate is not alone on the distasteful list of the football-loving Nation, but has company in another, who was a key figure in lucrative secret deals during the 2014 World Cup campaign and the squandering of millions of dollars under the regime of a now president of a member Association, all yet to be investigated.
The other candidate of Team Unity in question has clearly demonstrated his incompetence at Management as was revealed recently when Guyana was fined four thousand Swiss Francs (over $800 000.G) for playing an ineligible player.
Also Guyana’s chances of getting past St Vincent in the 2018 World Cup qualifier were dashed by the failure of the said Management to secure Guyanese Nationalities and clearance for UK-born players in time.
The ‘Beautiful Game’ in Guyana, in an attempt to turn a positive and trusted corner, must be wary of these characters amid the laments for wholesome change.
A look at the composition of Team Integrity shows a different picture with a question mark by some within the fraternity of just one candidate, who was recently named among the Regional Development Coaches of the GFF and was also recently elected to the helm of a member Association. This individual, despite his critics, continues to find a place in the structure of the sport.
Outside of that, there are only positive things that could be said of the Wayne Forde-led Team and their impressive manifesto, which clearly identifies the vision for football development.
Add to that the provision of employment for players, sponsorship of the first annual Summer Camp for Youth Soccer at Fruta Conquerors, providing free bottled water for all teams for the past ten years, upgrading floodlights at the Tucville ground, investing in hiring a Youth coach for Conquerors and just completing a deal to very soon construct a new quality stand at the Tucville ground. These are some of the personal contributions of Forde.
“I have not seen a manifesto for Team Unity but have listened to most of and interviewed leader Nigel Hughes on his vision and he too has presented a quality plan forward, though I was amused on one occasion when he was being interviewed on Radio – he could barely remember the members of his slate. I immediately asked myself, having followed most of the activities of the two slates: How ready is Team Unity?
The moral readiness and sincere commitment to the sport of both Hughes and Forde are undeniable having devoted time and assistance over the years, but the thirst for the power to control football in Guyana by a particular clique of very little moral standards and who believe they have the right to dictate, is casting doubts in the minds of the dear followers of the game.
The moral responsibility rests in the hands of those who will cast their secret votes as directed by their respective membership and the heavy price and burden for doing otherwise will rest on their consciences for life.
The upper level of Team Integrity’s slate is as solid as a rock and with a diverse representation at the lower level, the ‘Beautiful Game’ is set for a bright future like never before should the voters do the right thing that is best for football.
While we must agree that the game is in urgent need of Integrity and Unity, not only here but globally, there can only be one winner today.
‘For the good of the game’ and in the presence of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), Antiguan Gordon Derrik who is expected to attend the Congress, let the process be clean and there be no repetition of previously aborted Congresses under the last president.
All 22 members are expected to be represented by two delegates each but only one vote per member will be allowed and the dress code is formal for a prompt 11:00hrs start.