GFF extends pre-season football transfer window FIFA approves
In an effort to facilitate the smooth transfer of local players between during the covid-19 pandemic, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has opted to extend the 2020/2021 pre-season transfer window to August 23rd.
This was communicated to members of the federation by a press release. According to the correspondence, the decision, which was endorsed by FIFA through Director of Football Regulatory James Kitching, was instituted following discussions with its regional member associations, affiliates and elite league clubs.
The original transfer period was from June 1st-July 31st. The release disclosed that FIFA endorsed the GFF’s decision yesterday due to the request being consistent with the guidelines regarding Covid-19, which was approved by the Bureau of the Council on April 6th.
According to the FIFA release which was signed by Kitching, “We refer to the above mentioned matter as well as to your correspondence dated 4 August 2020, by means of which your association ‘request[s] the permission of FIFA to extend the GFF Transfer Window to August 23, 2020 for all categories of players (i.e. men, women, and amateurs)’. Consistent with (i) the guidelines and decisions regarding COVID-19 approved by the Bureau of the Council on 6 April 2020 and (ii) FIFA circular no. 1720, we are pleased to inform you that your request to amend your registration period(s) is granted.”
The correspondence continued, “As a result, we kindly inform you that the relevant dates of the first registration period applicable to the 2020/2021 season will be amended by FIFA in the Transfer Matching System as follows: from 1 June to 23 August 2020.”
President of the GFF Wayne Forde, said the GFF “...is actively drawing up plans for a robust restart of football nationally and would like to give each registered club the opportunity to prepare for a competitive season. The GFF will be announcing these plans once the COVID-19 Task Force and the Ministry of Public Health provide the requisite clearance for the resumption of competitive sports. In the meantime, we urge our members to continue to respect the COVID-19 guidelines.”
Similarly, GFF General Secretary, Ian Alves said, “In light of the continuing situation concerning the COVID-19 pandemic, and the public advisories as issued by the relevant Government Agencies, and the fact that the GFF Secretariat is only opened on a needto basis, having only essential staff on duty on any given day, RMA’s, clubs, and other interested stakeholders are encouraged to conduct their transfer transactions via the use of electronic communication. Transfer requests can be emailed to competition@guyanafootball.org or info@guyanafootball.org, and these will be responded to as necessary.”
With plans afoot to formulate a structure for the possible return of football, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) will host a meeting today with several members under its umbrella to discuss pertinent issues at the entity’s section-K Campbellville headquarters.
This was revealed by a source close to the federation. According to the source, the meeting is part of a series of ongoing discussions which focusses on creating plans for the resuscitation of the sport when the current covid-19 pandemic subsides and following clearance from the relevant authorities such as the covid-19 taskforce and the Ministry of Health.
The source disclosed that a meeting was also staged on August 4th with officials of several Elite League clubs.
“The GFF President is inviting your Club President (or Secretary where there is no functioning Club President) and Head Coach to a Meeting at the GFF Secretariat Boardroom on Tuesday 4th August, 2020 at 12:00 hours. Details of the Meeting Agenda will be disseminated before Tuesday, for your information and preparation. All of the requisite health protocols will be in effect. We look forward to seeing your club representatives on Tuesday,” the correspondence seen by Stabroek Sport stated.
The meetings are often attended by the GFF President Wayne Forde, General Secretary Alves, Technical Director Ian Greenwood and Technical Development Officer Bryan Joseph, who are members of the federation’s working committee which comprises individuals from the GFF’s executive committee, administrative staff and members of the general council.
The committee was created by the federation to formulate plans for the sport’s eventual return. This was disclosed by Alves during a previous interview with this publication on May 27th.
“They want to give that responsibility to the associations and make it a collective effort so that everyone plays their part in ensuring that football returns to normalcy after the covid-19 situation. The GFF is waiting on word from the Ministry of Health because we will have a new task force now due to the change of government.
“The GFF will be funding pretty much everything to get football back on track after acquiring covid-19 relief from FIFA but numbers have not been discussed at the moment. Because of the covid-19 situation they have not held a meeting with everyone at the same time. The GFF is planning and preparing to run tournaments when the situation is over. As any organization you have to plan but of course it’s dependent on the advice of the Ministry of Health,” said the source.