www.bviolympics.com Football Former president Andy Bickerton withdrew his nomination and threw his support squarely behind Pickering—a 10-year veteran of the Virgin Gorda Football Association—and she rode it to a resounding 9-2 landslide victory over Llewellyn “Tudor” Dasent. First vice president Aubrey Liburd was elected by acclimation. Marcus Butler unseated Leslie McMaster by another 9-2 margin, to become the 2nd Vice President. Former General Secretary Kenrick Grant—who had been in Football administration for the last 20 years—was ousted altogether when he sought to become the association’s treasurer. Grant was bested by the Martin Cook—the man he replaced as General Secretary less than a year ago, by a 9-2 margin. Alfred Reid got the nod as Assistant Secretary of Operations, with a 9-2 victory over Winston Potter. Elroy “Mandraker” Mills withdrew from the running for Assistant Secretary of Administration, giving Avanel “Clarky” Morton the post. Seeing the voting trend for change, Bernard Grant followed Mills by declining the post of association member, which went to Wendol “Poto” Williams. The executive will appoint a General Secretary. “I’ve asked for the full support and cooperation of the membership to develop football in the BVI,” Pickering said. “I’ve told the membership as well, if they see things are not going right, to say ‘look, we don’t like this, we want a change in it.’ And if they don’t want the executive in, take them out—they have the power to do so,” she noted. “And in all these years, I don’t know why they didn’t use it. But the people have spoken tonight that they wanted a change and they have made that change and I certainly hope that I do not disappoint them.” Bickerton noted the drastic decline since he left four years ago. He said there was no beach, 7-a-side or women’s league football being played and the BVI had dropped from 161 to 190 in the FIFA ranking. “There is no doubt that conflict was a problem with BVI Football,” FIFA representative Taylor stated. “I encourage the new executive to follow the statutes, cooperate and communicate. I wish you well and you can always count on me for my full support.” Taylor said the BVIFA stands to lose its $400,000 FIFA Gold Project funds by October, if nothing is submitted—something that has been languishing under the previous administration for the last four years. Citing a weakness in administration—not only in the BVI but, across the region—Taylor said he will get FIFA to organize an administration course, when he attends a meeting in Zurich, Switzerland on Sunday. In a election full of drama, twists, turns and declines, © Copyright 2007 BVI Olympic Committee |
