CONCACAF praises progress of football reform in Guyana

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) is among the first CONCACAF member associations to have their financial statements approved, according to knowledgeable sources.
Moreover, the GFF has made significant strides in reforming and rebuilding football, according to senior CONCACAF official Howard McIntosh, who was in Guyana to observe the 2018 GFF Congress.
McIntosh is a Senior Manager of ONE CONCACAF and Caribbean Projects, and is a former FIFA Development Officer for the region. He declared to delegates at the GFF Congress, “I am happy to hear and see the tremendous strides that football in Guyana has made. What we want to see is professionalism in football, and that starts with the administration off the field. You must be one of the first CONCACAF member associations that have actually approved your financial statements.”
The GFF Congress approved the administration’s financial statements on Monday, after the GFF achieved full compliance status with FIFA. This status means the GFF can now access full FIFA funding, which had been restricted due to issues dating back to previous administrations.
“You need to be proud of the transition that has been made,” McIntosh told the GFF Congress. “I can tell you it is a significant improvement. I want to congratulate all of you for the work you are doing.”
As the GFF seeks to restore the image of football, reform and stabilise its governance, and invest in developing the game in all regions, this CONCACAF endorsement is a welcome development, and follows public support from FIFA President Gianni Infantino and CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani.
GFF President Wayne Forde also met FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura on Tuesday, during the inauguration of the FIFA Caribbean office in Barbados, to discuss future funding for football development projects. Guyana’s first national football training centre is due to be completed at Providence in the coming weeks.
Under the FIFA Forward programme, fully compliant national member associations have access to US$5 million every four-year cycle, for football development and running costs.