Coaches size up ahead of GFF Super League final next Sunday

Nov 22, 2009 Sports

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Alpha coming with full force;
GDF encamped from Tuesday

By Franklin Wilson
Next Sunday is the day the inaugural Guyana Football Federation Super League champions will be crowned when the best two teams emerging from the ten team tournament face off in the championship game at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.
Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United arguably the best local club will throw down the gauntlet to the Guyana Defence Force as they battle for the top prize of One Million Dollars and bragging rights as the best team in the tournament sponsored by FIFA under the Win in CONCACAF with CONCACAF Project.
Alpha got past Milerock in extra time in their semi-final contest last Sunday while the GDF sunk old nemesis Sunburst Camptown 3-0 in their other match up.
But come Sunday, as both teams have said, the difference between winning and losing will come down to which of the two teams is the hungrier.
The respective Coaches have spoken of their plans to ensure victory against each other. Alpha will start the contest with the slight advantage based on their track record and Coach Clifton Bobb who has been at the helm of the club ever since May this year said he is coming with full force for combat on Sunday as the aim is to take the championship.
Bobb since taking over at Alpha has lost only two matches, to Pele in the Cellink Premier League and BK International Western Tigers in the final of the Mackeson Futsal tournament. Bobb who has been coach of the GDF for some time disclosed that he is aware that the Army is a fit unit and he is preparing his team accordingly.
“Alpha is superior to the Army technically but we will have to match them in terms of fitness and we have been doing extra work in this department. We are not going to give anything away to the Army as we intend to lock up all the spaces and be rock solid in defence.”
Bobb acknowledged that his team was not at their best against Milerock who ran them down, pointing out that defensively and offensively, they were lacking but that would not be the case against the GDF on Sunday next pointing out that his side has a lot of depth and boasts players who can step up and make their presence felt on any given day.
He noted that despite a number of players being on the injured list and sitting out the semi-final due to cards they were still able to get past Milerock. “Victory in this tournament will cap a fine year for us.”
His opposite number, Marlon Washington, a former National table Tennis Champion and the Current National Masters Champion, is equally confident that his team has the necessary tools to overcome the star studded Alpha and take the championship on Sunday.
Washington, who was part of the ‘Golden Jaguars’ Technical Team that created history when they won the Suriname Independence Tournament, the first senior national team to win an overseas tournament, said they are leaving nothing to chance in winning to the extent that the team will be encamped from Tuesday at Base Camp Ayangana.
“We are pleased so far with the level of preparation for the final but we will up the tempo from Tuesday.”
Reflecting briefly on the semi-final game against Camptown, Washington said he was satisfied to an extent with the performance of the team but recognised that they needed to do more work on finishing and improved fitness.
“During the subsequent period of encampment we will be working on the areas of fitness, speed drills and defending as a unit among other things.
We know that Alpha is a good team and that we have to be well prepared for the battle on Sunday.”
A total of 23 players will be encamped and Washington has recognised the invaluable support that the team has been receiving from the hierarchy of the Guyana Defence Force, which has been a major factor in their successes.
He made special mention of Col. Bruce Lovell and Major Vernon Burnette.
Fans will be in for an exciting time on Sunday in the final. The third place playoff features Camptown and Milerock.
GDF Squad: Goalkeepers – Delon Young, Rodwell Sandy, Kevin Price. Defence – Keon Adams, Devon Harris, Royan Morrison, Seon Prince, Sheik Kamal, Ryan Adolph. Midfield – Warren Gilkes, Marlon Benjamin, Eusi Phillips, Kevin Lewis, Keiron Joseph, Desford Williams, Shevane Seaforth. Forwards – Stellon David, Delroy Deen, Hubert Pedro, Seon Brewley, Steven Dolphin, Frederick Boyce.
Alpha United Squad: Ronson Williams, Howard Lowe, Kelvin McKenzie, Anthony Harding, Abassi McPherson, Kelvin Smith, Quincy Madramootoo, Philbert Moffat, Dwain Jacobs, Dwight Peters, Edison Gomes, Andrew Murray, Gordon Henry, Kevin Smith, Shawn Bishop, Dwayne Roberts, Kelvin Smith.

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