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Lumumba challenges FIFA to ensure resolution in Guyana situation
President of the Alpha Football Club, Odinga Lumumba, has again written to Football Governing Body FIFA, this time pointing out areas in which the FIFA team that is scheduled to visit here this month should look at in the hope of cleaning up the local game.
He challenged them not to only just spend a day here because that is not enough time to meet will all stakeholders and to ensure an amicable resolution to the issue.
Odinga Lumumba
Citing several instances in the past where he would have communicated with various regional and the governing body of football on the matter here, Lumumba hinted that FIFA should have intervened a long time ago.
He highlighted several injustices that have been handed down by the Guyana Football Federation over the last decade and the lack of action by FIFA or CONCACAF in his missive. Among them the GFF’s ill treatment of the Georgetown Football Association; denial of their voting rights which previous President Colin Klass used to guarantee victory during his 20 year reign in the position.
He observed Guyana’s inability to get its Goal Project off the ground after ten years, despite the release of FIFA funds. Also the match fixing matter in the 2011 CFU leg of the CONCACAF championship and the lack of action and public statement by the GFF on Klass’ bribery charge in the Bin Hamman vote for cash scandal.
He called on FIFA to bring independent lawyers and take statements from the Guyana Olympic Association, Guyana referee Association, Executives of Clubs, Government Officials and other members of the football fraternity to get a true picture of what is happening here.
Lumumba also indicated that he will continue with his petition drive to form an opposing body to the current GFF if the situation is not properly dealt with and if so called upon, will make himself available when the team visits Guyana.
He recommended a Termination of the current GFF executive, Appointment of five (5) person Interim Management Committee, organising of general elections in all Associations and Affiliated bodies within six (6) months based on terms of conditions of the approved if any FIFA GFF constitution.
These elections he notes; must include conditions that spell out the authenticity of clubs and their rights to participate in voting process of Associations. The Alpha boss also called for an independent investigation of the use of FIFA funds for the past 20 years including the $500,000 for the Goal project and hosting of GFF elections within 9 months.
A FIFA delegation is due this week to look at the Guyana situation and Lumumba is hopeful that his recommendations would be taken into consideration and the situation here is resolved and football can progress as it should.
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