Former FIFA International Referee Otis James was elected to the helm of the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) yesterday when the entity staged its Electoral Congress at the Pegasus Hotel, Kingston.
The former Georgetown Referees Association and Beacons FC President was confirmed as GFA President after the nine eligible clubs voted in the affirmative for him.
Newcomer GT Panthers did not have voting rights and Order & Discipline failed to submit the necessary documentation in the prescribed timeframe to acquire the ability to vote.
James will now lead an executive committee which comprises several executives and football administrators from various clubs within the Georgetown realm.
They are vice-presidents Akram Sabree (Camptown), Clifton Adams (Eastveldt) and Dirk Exeter (Pele). The other members are General Secretary Faizal Khan (GFC), Treasurer Lomell Johnson (Black Pearl) and Assistant Secretary/Treasurer Penny John (Wolves United).
Following his ascension to the top post, James said, “It’s a good feeling for something that I wanted to do; get a chance to bring a stable environment to the GFA and play football on the field and not in the media. The GFA, in a couple of weeks, will see a total transition in the way things are going to happen.”
According to James, “We are trying to launch the 2019/2020 season as soon as possible. The first thing on the agenda is to play the Under 17 Namilco tournament and the division one league. We may be able to launch a Georgetown Premier League; that is the focus at the moment. All other youth football programmes are slated for the New Year. Bear in mind all the programmes we want to launch should be male and female.”
Present at the election was Guyana Football Federation (GFF) 3rd Vice-President Thandi McAllister. GFF Electoral Committee Chairman Charles Corbin and member Raphael Jackman were also in attendance.
