Alpha encampment set for next week

Feb 21, 2009 Sports

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As preparations for CFU Club Championship intensify

By Franklin Wilson
President of the Alpha United Football Club Odinga Lumumba disclosed yesterday at a press briefing that the team will commence a 3-week period of encampment from next week as preparations for the Caribbean Football Union’s Club Champions Cup intensifies.

The location of the camp site was not disclosed but Lumumba said it will be serious business as no visitors will be allowed to disrupt the focus of the team which is aiming to make all Guyana proud.
The camp is compulsory and players who do not attend according to the Alpha head, will be disqualified.
“We know that people have problems with jobs so we have written letters to their employers and to pay them but if they don’t pay them we have also written corporate Guyana for support. We are also looking at a way to compensate players.”
A number of practice games are being planned and T&T’s Pro League side Joe Public is one of the teams targeted.

In the next two weeks a strong Brazilian side from the state of Roraima will be here for two games while games are also being planned against All Star teams from a number of associations and a national All Star or President’s X1.
While acknowledging that there have been periods of tardiness on the part of players, things are falling into place with the turn out at practice sessions now 95%. “I’ve seen the improvement in discipline and a change in character.”

Alpha, winners of the Georgetown Premier League from 2006 – 2008 will play Tempete FC of Haiti in their first round game at the GCC Ground Bourda on March 21st according to Lumumba. The National Stadium is out since it has been booked for International Cricket.

The original date for the first leg was March 18 in Haiti but that has since changed. The return game will be played in Haiti on March 29. The Alpha united head had written to the Haitian club proposing for both games to be played in Guyana but his proposal was not accepted but came to a compromise.
Round 2 fixtures will be on April 13th and 20th and lead into the Final Caribbean Round from May 15th to 17th in T&T. The top three (3) Caribbean teams of this tournament automatically qualify to the CONCACAF Champion’s League 2009/2010 edition.

National captain Charles ‘Lily’ Pollard has been named Alpha captain and according to Lumumba his presence has brought a professional attitude to the team.
To ensure Alpha’s success at the Caribbean Championship a number of other players were drafted in.
Pollard’s defence twin at the national level, Howard Lowe, left back Abassi McPherson, Edison Gomes and Shawn Johnson (goalkeeper). Four Brazilians have also been invited for tryout with the team they will be tested next week.
Pollard is also an assistant coach with the team and his experience as the most seasoned national player with a high level of exposure at the professional level in Trinidad and Tobago and the USA is a major boost to Alpha.

Ivan Persaud who is based in England is also expected back to assist in the technical department. He spent a few days with the team last month.
Budget
Lumumba disclosed that the venture is a very expensive one but they are prepared to go all the way. The estimated budget to go all the way which includes the CONCACAF leg is Forty (40) million Guyana dollars.
Speaking on travel arrangements, it was disclosed that getting to Haiti can either be done through Trinidad via Panama at a cost of about US $1,800 per person while going through the United States can be about US$700 to 800.

“So we will try to get some in transit visas to the United States because it’s a challenge for us. We’ve had experiences in the past where footballs teams went to America to play and 99% of the team never returned. We don’t want that embarrassment and we understand this is a challenge also. We’re not going to allow these players to sacrifice our nation so we have to talk to them seriously.”
Lumumba promised to engage the US Embassy in discussions to work things out for the visas.

Corporate support
Several companies and corporations have been written to for assistance and the indications have been good to date.
“The first two to come on board has been Courtney Benn Construction Company as usual and New GPC. Others are coming and we are sure that at the end of the day we will get a lot of support.
The Presidential Advisor on Empowerment is of the view that this is an historical moment for Guyana and with the support of Guyanese including the corporate community, going all the way is achievable.

“We will do our part, if Tempete FC beat us they beat us, but I can guarantee the press and this country that they not going to beat us because we are not prepared, if they beat us is because they are better. This team we put together will beat our national team and anybody coming to play has to play or they will be beaten and that’s the attitude and capacity of this team that we’re going to unload on behalf of Guyana. So we are asking for your support.”

Pollard was commended by Lumumba for taking up the challenge to join forces with Alpha for this period and all the other players.
It was also disclosed that leading striker Anthony Abrams has some legal challenges to deal with, relating to his playing in Suriname, which has prevented him from playing locally.
Lumumba highlighted that it is a serious issue which has to be dealt with by the Suriname and Guyana Federations. “It is unfortunate because I believe that in recent times he is the best forward this country has produced.

I think he’s miles ahead of Gregory Richardson but the difference between the two is that Richardson has discipline, he is serious and he has matured, so if Mr. Abrams steps up to the plate with the level of maturity and we are able to sort this problem out, he will be in the team and he can help lead us to victory.

Attitude of players
Pollard in brief remarks stated that it was a privilege for him to represent the top team in his country in a Caribbean championship while noting that the game is universal.

He pointed that that the one thing lacking in local football and something that he can bring to the team, is professionalism and good attitude.

“I think it is very poor, some guys train today, miss tomorrow and train the next day and I think this is something I stress on a lot. If we do not train, we cannot play and don’t business about name and what you did before.
Football calls for lots of training and I think we have tremendous talent on the team but the attitude is very poor.”

Pollard, who has been a great inspiration to many players at the national level for about ten years and counting, was happy to note that he has seen improvement in this department in the last two weeks especially from midfielder Leon Grumble and Quincy Madramootoo.

“I think these are players with tremendous talent but their mentality was very poor towards training.
I sat and had a chat with them and they accepted that they were slipping up and they were willing to give their all for the tournament and beyond.”

The captain ventured to say that this problem is something that is blighting football generally where players turn up late for training with some flimsy excuses and a professional attitude is what he has brought to the team.

“So far the players have shown me a lot of respect and this is something I also show them and we are building this team as a family and this is what we are working on.

This is a talented bunch but talent goes no where without good attitude.” Meanwhile, Frank Parris has been appointed head of Football Operations and Mark Young, Administrative Assistant with the club.

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