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Tue, Mar

Rayshawn Mars, Secretary of the Northern Football Association
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Rayshawn Mars, the general secretary of the Northern Football Association (NFA), said yesterday's meeting which was called by some clubs in the zone was not convened by the general secretary according to the zone's constitution.

Mars said he did not attend the meeting because no invitation was sent to the management of the zone.

Asked if the meeting was constitutionally called, Mars responded: "While clubs do have a natural right to do so there was a number of flaws from the get-go with the petition all the way to their handling of setting things in place 'according' to the constitution, that was flawed."

In response to how many clubs need to request a meeting. and the general secretary needs to respond as outlined in the constitution, Mars stated: "Fifty (50) per cent or more and yes the office of the secretariat has acknowledged their request at least in communication."

Asked if today's (December 12 meeting) was called according to the NFA constitution, he responded: "There were numerous flaws as for the meeting today. The time frame for instance they did not allow for the constitutionally recommended amount of time to lapse to have a legal meeting. The AGM is scheduled for 28th of December 2020."

However, yesterday's meeting which had on its agenda the election of officers did not have a quorum and has been rescheduled for December 26.

Anthony 'Dada' Wickham, the Trendsetter Hawks coach, told Guardian Media Sports after the meeting was called off that, "Only seven clubs were present in which six had voting rights, so we had no quorum, so the meeting will now be held on December 26 (Boxing Day). The constitution says the reconvened meeting must take place 14 days after which is Boxing day. It will be held at the same venue at 10.30 am."

Wickham said that the clubs who attended were Trendsetter Hawks, Elements, Seekers, Laventille Utd, RSSR, and Partner Village. Real West Fort, the club of former national standout Ron La Forest, was also present but without voting rights.

Wickham's slate which comprises Ross Russell (president); Wickham and Rodney Stowe (vice presidents), Michael Thomas (assistant secretary - Admin) and Nevick Denoon  (assistant secretary - Operations) with Kareem Paul and Dexter Harris as ordinary members.

Meanwhile, Derek Edwards of Petit Valley/Diego Martin United club explained that the slate which is led by Richard Piper will be contesting the meeting which is called by the NFA general secretary Mars for December 28.

He said that slate comprises - Richard Piper (president); Edwards and Triston Charles (vice presidents); Marvin Small (assistant secretary - Operations) while the assistant secretary - Admin is yet to be named and Mark Benny (ordinary member).

On Friday, Edwards said that Wickham's team is attempting to go against the date set by the NFA executive, which is December 28.

Also on Friday, Anthony Harford, president of the NFA told Guardian Media Sports that, "The Northern Football Association (NFA) executive met following a petition from several clubs in the North Zone and set December 28, 2020, for the Zone meeting according to the constitution. This date was sent to the TTFA normalisation committee which has agreed to this date and will be sending adjudicators for the meeting."                                                      
He said he will not be standing for re-election and will be standing down at the AGM on December 28. He said has no knowledge of any other meeting and if the clubs have a meeting planned among themselves, he has no information about that. He said if anyone needs any information on the AGM, they can contact Mars, the NFA general secretary.

Mars said, "The executive and by extension the NFA is not against change that's the only thing that is constant. On the 28th the parties that are running to hold office have an opportunity to participate in a 'free and fair' election.

"The zone has been and is always open to sponsors who want to invest in the clubs and by extension the communities that are represented. They are undeniably interrelated and as we look forward to the December 28, we are inviting the businesses and constituency office holders to play a part or for those who have been to continue to work in assisting zonal football."


SOURCE: T&T Guardian