THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) is among the first CONCACAF member associations to approve its financial statements and has made significant strides in reforming and rebuilding football, according to senior CONCACAF official Howard McIntosh.

McIntosh, senior manager of ONE CONCACAF and Caribbean projects and a former FIFA Development Officer for the region, was in Guyana to observe the 2018 GFF Congress.

“I am happy to hear and see the tremendous strides that football in Guyana has made,” McIntosh told delegates at the Congress, adding that “what we want to see is professionalism in football, and that starts with the administration off the field. You must be one of the first CONCACAF member associations that have actually approved your financial statements.”

The GFF Congress approved the administration’s financial statements on Monday, after the GFF achieved full compliance status with FIFA. This status means the GFF can now access full FIFA funding which had been restricted due to issues dating back to previous administrations.

“You need to be proud of the transition that has been made. I can tell you it is a significant improvement,” McIntosh said. “I want to congratulate all of you for the work you are doing.”

The CONCACAF endorsement follows public support from FIFA president Gianni Infantino and CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani, as the GFF seeks to restore the image of football, reform and stabilise its governance, and to invest in developing the game in all regions.

GFF president Wayne Forde also met FIFA Secretary-General Fatma Samoura on Tuesday during the inauguration of the FIFA Caribbean office in Barbados, to discuss future funding for football development projects. Guyana’s first national football training centre is due to be completed at Providence in the coming weeks.

Under the FIFA Forward programme, fully compliant national member associations have access to US$5M every four-year cycle for football development and running costs.