Anthony Harford has stepped down as president of the Northern Football Association (NFA).
However, he remains a member of the United T&T Football Association (TTFA) which will today know its fate from the T&T High Court in Port-of-Spain, if the decision by football’s supreme body FIFA to replace them with a Normalisation Committee was legitimate.
Yesterday Harford, who has been ailing for a while, submitted his resignation letter to the association’s secretary Rashawn Mars, which said he will not be seeking re-election for the NFA’s top job.
Harford said: “After much introspection and discussion with my family, I have made the difficult decision to not seek re-election for the office at the upcoming NFA elections. I firmly believe that sport leadership is a noble exercise, but over the past several months I have seen football descend into upheaval, disruption and on the brink of destruction, which have dealt me with savage blows. I have reached the point of being unable to deal with this vandalism.
“I wish to thank the executive for a sterling job in bettering young lives through sport, it has been a pleasure. I also thank the clubs for their support.”
Under Harford’s leadership two teams, an Under-16 and an U-17 embarked on tours in Canada and Tampa last year, which was in addition to a smoothly-run tournament. Harford was also instrumental in clinics being hosted at eight of the NFA’s centres.
Harford, one of the founding members of the United TTFA, promised he maintains protocol and host this year’s AGM where he will hand over to his successor and discuss the funds that are owed to clubs which were not paid, due to the cancellation of three fund-raising venture because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
This year’s AGM was initially carded for September but the pandemic forced its postponement. It is uncertain, however, when the AGM will be held since calls to Mars’ phone went unanswered yesterday and no club was able to give a definite word.
Guardian Media Sports contacted officials of RSSR United, to be told that a meeting was held on Wednesday night and another is scheduled for Sunday, but it is uncertain whether it will be the association’s AGM.
In the meantime, Harford also promised to discuss all outstanding matters, saying: “I will discuss any matters outstanding and look forward to a smooth transition. These matters were not discussed earlier because the architect of the change taking place in the NFA, did not show up for planned meetings with the executive.”
SOURCE: T&T Guardian