National coach and Alpha United tactician Wayne “Wiggy” Dover was elected Guyana Football Coaches Association (GFCA) president at their electoral congress held at the Umana Yana on Sunday.
Chaired by Interim Management Committee secretary, Kirk Douglas, the first item on the schema was the notice of a role call which was used to identify the possible eligible voters.
The various coaches were tasked with acknowledging their presence while stating their respective merits and experience in that capacity.
After a painstakingly long deliberation, littered with trivial complications and insignificant impediments, the electoral procedure finally got underway with returning officer Lawrence “Sparrow” Griffith presiding.
Twenty five possible voters, compliments of the aforesaid role call were identified and first on the agenda was the vacant post of president for which the only nominee was Dover.
Decided by the voting method of secret ballot, Dover was confirmed in the aforementioned position, garnering 23 of the 25 votes.
This set a precedent as the vice president post, which was next on the agenda, was won by Bryan Joseph (again the sole nominee) with 23 of the 25 votes.
Next on the list was the secretary position with Fruta Conquerors coach Sampson Gilbert being installed in the position after winning 24 of the eligible votes. He was also the lone nominee.
The remaining positions of treasurer and committee member were won by Sheron Abrams and Jevon Rodrigues who each gained the maximum votes.
The media officer vacancy was not contested and will be rectified at another sitting as the sole entrant Mark Bradford was not available to register.
Griffith, in brief remarks, stated he hopes the new body executes courses affording coaches to become qualified so that the game of football can be improved in totality.
“I hope that the new body implements programmes to get coaches the necessary qualifications so that we can improve football and get it back on the rise,” he said.
Dover in his first address, said that he was truly humbled by the significant occasion and that the body should work collectively to improve the game.
“I am truly humbled by this momentous occasion and that this is the time for hope and development for football in Guyana. No coach will be left behind and I beseech my fellow coaches to work communally to help in the development of the sport,” he said.
Vice President Joseph said that coaches play a significant part in the development of the sport adding that he expects all coaches to have an input on the way forward.
“I have a strong belief that coaches play the most important part in development of the game and players and my hope is that this will be a successful beginning as I expect all coaches to have an input in the progression of the sport.”
Gilbert also shared his sentiments. “I advocate for the motto to be ‘true unity we succeed’ as the nucleus of the football is the coaches. While we might not share the same ideologies in regards to training, we should respect and love each other as we are all brothers in the same cause,” he declared.
Closing the scheduled proceedings of day were comments by elected committee member Rodrigues who affirmed “This is the beginning of a very long road and that coach development and evolution is imperative as strong coaches lead to strong clubs.”
