GFF, GFA headed for a showdown

Jan 25, 2009 Sports

By Michael Benjamin
The Guyana Football Federation (GFF), in keeping with its mandate to develop football in Guyana has summoned the members of the General Council of the Guyana Football Association (GFA) to a meeting scheduled for Tuesday January 27. However, the two entities share differences on which issues ought to comprise the agenda.
A source close to the GFA said that they have tabled several issues for discussions among them the transfer issue and the resignation of the President of the GFF, Colin Klass. However, General Secretary of the GFF, Noel Adonis is adamant that the issue regarding the resignation of Klass has been thoroughly ventilated and resolved.
General Secretary of the GFF, Noel Adonis told Kaieteur Sport that a decision taken at a recent General Council meeting has mandated the GFF to meet with members of the various sub-associations with an aim of triggering off the developmental process in the youth and senior department.
Adonis said that already GFF executives have convened meetings with those of the East Coast and the Berbice sub associations and engaged in fruitful discussions. He said that the major concerns arising out of the meeting with the aforementioned sub associations were centered on youth development. Adonis further disclosed that the executive of the Berbice and East Coast Sub associations voiced the need for more emphasis to be placed on youth development. He also said that they have arrived at a common solution to the issue.
Quizzed on the agenda for the upcoming meeting with the GFA, Adonis said that several issues have been tabled for discussion. Among them are the policies enacted for players’ transfers and the general management and administration of football in Georgetown.
However, a source close to the GFA says that the issues affecting football in Georgetown are many and he hopes that the executives of the GFF are prepared to deal with them. He admitted that the transfer issue needs to be regularized since at the moment there are many unfair practices that have compromised the advancement of local footballers.
The source said, that the officials of the GFF have been partial in this department; issuing transfers to players from some clubs while denying other players the opportunity. Adonis said that the issue of transfers has been a troubling one. However, he said that he is not aware of any immediate grouses from the players in this department.
The general Secretary also said that the inconsistency in the interpretation of the statutes of this policy has created some confusion. “We will be clarifying this at the meeting with the GFA so that we may have a common understanding of what is required,” Adonis said.
Touching on the issue of Klass’ resignation from the Presidency, the call initially emanated from players that were reportedly involved in a fracas with Klass after the team lost in the trials of the Digicel World Cup Qualifiers in Trinidad and Tobago last year. Some senior members of the squad had called for Klass’ resignation.
Adonis said that as far as he knew the General Council had convened and discussed the matter in its entirety. He said that if members of the GFA were dissatisfied with the results they were free to address it within the framework of the Constitution of the GFF.
The issue of Klass’ resignation had its genesis in Trinidad and Tobago when several members of the Golden Jaguars team that had lost in the Digicel World Cup Qualifiers last year had accused Klass of abandoning the team. The players had threatened to hang up their boots if their request was not met.
At a press conference convened shortly afterwards at the GFF offices in Section K Campbellville, Klass had fired back saying that the GFF had invested approximately thirty million dollars in the development of the players and had received little returns. The GFF boss had accused the players of laxity saying that they were in their twilight years and he was seriously contemplating other options, more preferably the blooding of a young team to take over the mantle.
Meanwhile, the source revealed that while the issue of transfers has been tabled for discussion there are other pressing issues that should be considered. Among them are the voting rights of the GFA, the outstanding prize monies and levy fees and the continued under development of football. The source revealed that unless these issues receive urgent attention, football development will continue to be compromised.

Latest News

GFF, GFA headed for a showdown

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | November, 20th, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Windies break home Test drought with 201-run win over Bangladesh

President Ali sees sports as ‘centrepiece’ of...

Amazon Warriors trounce Qalandars in opener

Shepherd excited for IPL journey with RCB

Romeo Hunter snares Sub-Junior and Open gold and...

Rockstone inaugural Street Classic Championship...

Features/Columnists

A psychological profile of a control freak

Rising Gun Crimes in the Caribbean: Urgent Action required by all

The ends are what matter, according to Dr. Jagdeo

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

GFF, GFA headed for a showdown

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | November, 20th, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]