National U-17 hammer Plaisance in 1st warm up game

Jul 20, 2008 Sports

By Franklin Wilson
The national under-17 football squad presently preparing for the 2008 Caribbean Football Union (CFU) competition, which kicks off on the 29th in Trinidad and Tobago, played their first warm up match yesterday.

The young ballweavers hammered an East Coast line up 5-0 in heavy conditions and high grass at the Parade Ground, Middle Street.

Head coach of the squad Joseph Wilson speaking with Kaieteur Sport after the game said the encounter was more or less to evaluate the things they have worked on during the week.

“There’s still a lot of brushing up to be done but we are kind of satisfied with what we have seen so far in terms of them executing what they have been taught.”

Commenting on the heavy conditions due to rain, Wilson said it can be good and bad.
“It can be positive in terms of their fitness but it can also work against them in terms of their ability to move control the ball on the ground it can hamper what we have worked on. But we have to take things in the positive light we can’t complain.”

With regard to the technical and tactical ability of the players, Wilson said they were still learning and has been improving, comparing where they are against where they were when he started with them over a week ago.

“We are satisfied that they are improving and that’s the view of the technical staff. We hope to get two more practice matches before we leave for Trinidad.”

But this all depends on the weather and the availability of a ground. They are scheduled to play the visiting La Romaine Lions Football Club of Trinidad and Tobago tomorrow at a venue yet to be decided.

Wilson is hoping that this game comes off since he wants his charges to get accustomed to playing with one rest day in between since this is how they will be playing in the CFU tournament.

Twenty three (23) players are currently encamped but the squad will be broken down to 18 on the 25th to travel to Trinidad on the 27th. At last years competition, Guyana ended 4th.