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Mexico game proceeds to be investigated – Matthias
GFF President Christopher Matthias (centre) flanked by (from left) – Keith O’Jeer, Ivan Persaud, Rawleston Adams and Vanessa Dickenson.
– support for Gulati could reap dividends
By Rawle Welch
In his first meeting with the media, President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Christopher Matthias touched on a broad range of issues regarding Guyana’s attendance, at the recently concluded CONCACAF Congress which was held in Panama.
Matthias, who defeated three other candidates Aubrey Major, Ivan Persaud and Alfred King for the Presidency on April 12 during the GFF’s Electoral Congress, told the gathering at the Head Office of the Demerara Harbour Bridge, that even though there was no formal setting for discussions pertaining to the issue surrounding the Mexico game switch and its proceeds, CONCACAF/ FIFA did share some concerns and are presently in a mode of getting some form of evidence to ascertain what really transpired.
“There was no formal setting, but concerns were raised and they are in a mode of getting some form of evidence,” Matthias told the media.
The recently elected President disclosed that he was advised at the Congress to identify persons of good repute (Committee) to undertake the task of investigating the matter.
He pointed out that within two months, they should be able to identify those individuals since they have a few choices in mind and it is now just a question of sharing the names with the executive for its approval.
Asked to clear the air on the ownership of the land at Orangestein, East Bank Essequibo that is supposed to be the home of the GOAL Project, Matthias said, “A document was shown to me which purports to indicate that the land belongs to the GFF so we need to ensure that the document reflects the accuracy of such.”
Matthias opened the interaction by emphasising that much of the time since taking office is being spent on chartering a new developmental path for the game in Guyana.
“For the past 15 days, the executive has been looking at the course we need to take, our daily efforts have been directed to achieve a national programme and policy and I can say here today that we’ve arrived at a consensus that could now be taken to the General Council for its perusal and approval.”
He acknowledged that due to the lack of accountability and transparency coupled with poor marketing in the past a lot of work needs to be done to repair the image of the sport locally and they’ve decided to work as a team despite their difference in experience, expertise and constituency.
Matthias accepted that Guyanese have been asking many questions about the governance of the past administration and need answers, but urged them to be patient and wait for the completion of the investigations.
The GFF Boss said that the institution is in a position of transition with regards to many positions, but promised that within a few months the process would be completed.
Quizzed on what they were able to achieve for Guyana, Matthias said they were able to meet with the CONCACAF Development Officer, who promised assistance on presentation of a structured development programme, while future assistance has also been pledged by the US Soccer Federation for Guyana’s support for Sunil Gulati to be on the FIFA Executice Committee.
Others present during yesterday’s Meeting were Vice-Presidents Rawleston Adams and Ivan Persaud and committee members Vanessa Dickenson and Keith O’Jeer.
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