In hopes for a legitimate and democratic FFB election
Posted: 23/03/2007 - 09:44 AM
Author: Le Roi A. Hyde
The long awaited and highly anticipated FFB election is finally here, and one cannot help but wonder what is going through FFB president Bertie Chimilio’s mind. Amandala did not receive anything official from the FFB office in this regard, but I did receive a verbal confirmation from Chimilio some days ago.
I have made several failed attempts to write something on the topic of football politics, but to be honest… I am sick and tired and frustrated with the whole mess. I finally decided to put as much as possible in the perennial nutshell, instead of getting into lengthy details.
To recap some of the most recent events, a meeting was held on Saturday, January 27, 2007, at the FFB Headquarters in Belmopan, regarding the fate of the then suspended members of the executive, namely Ray Davis (former 1st vice-president and now president elect), Marlon Kuylen (former executive member and now 2nd vice-president elect), David Griffith (former chairperson for the Belmopan Football Association), Cruz Gamez (chairperson for the Cayo Football Association) and Denise Van Stuivenberg (former chairperson for the Stann Creek Football Association).
According to Chimilio, the meeting was basically an opportunity for the suspended members to lodge their appeal. But Davis and his faction reiterated the point that it was their moment instead to voice their opinion against what they claimed to be an unjust suspension.
After Davis and his faction had said their part and left the meeting, it was later decided that the suspension for Griffith, Gamez and van Stuivenberg was lifted; however, they were not allowed to participate in Belizean football at the executive level for a period of 1 year, with effect from the date of the meeting. The suspension for Davis and Kuylen would remain for 5 years, with effect from the same date.
According to these members, they have yet to receive in writing the decision made at the meeting.
After Belize’s dismal and disappointing performance in the nation’s Cup in El Salvador (no disrespect to the players, who gave it their all), Chimilio had appointed a pro tem chairperson for the Cayo, Belmopan and Stann Creek Associations. Stann Creek and Belmopan had held elections within their membership, who eventually decided to reject Chimilio’s pro tem chairperson, and elected one of their own. In Cayo, Gamez decided to step aside and allowed the members to appoint someone who coincidentally was accepted by Chimilio.
The FFB election for the executive members will be held this Saturday, March 24 at the FFB Headquarters in Belmopan, and it is our understanding that some official(s) from either CONCACAF and/or FIFA will be present. Furthermore, the pro tem chairperson for the Stann Creek and Belmopan Associations will be eligible for the voting, and not the persons elected by the members within.
That is a serious power move by Chimilio, who is running for re-election as the president of the FFB. His slate includes Bernaldo Pech as 1st vice-president, David Jones of Cayo as 2nd vice-president, and Trenton Miller and David Gomez as executive members.
On February 28, Ruperto Vicente, General Secretary for the Belize Premier Football League (BPFL), announced that he is contesting the presidency. His slate includes William Moguel as 1st vice president, Antonio Zabaneh as 2nd vice president; and Hilberto Muschamp and John Moody as executive members.
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