GFF raps with Media on a range of issues

Nov 24, 2010 Sports

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The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) yesterday held a press conference to update the Media on a range of issues pertaining to football and its development. Accompanying GFF President at the head table were General Secretary Noel Adonis, Organising Secretary Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major and Head Coach of the ‘Golden Jaguars’ Wayne ‘Wiggy’ Dover.
‘Lady Jags’
The ‘Lady Jags’, the first team (Male or female) to reach the CONCACAF Gold Cup finals were complimented by GFF for doing an excellent job in a very short space of time. While not winning any of their games in the finals that took place in Mexico, the team did Guyana proud by showing great heart and determination coming up against very experienced and seasoned opposition. The Federation said it was still working on areas to make the team even better.
“It has been a tremendous sacrifice by these ladies, some of them have had to forego classes at school and we’ve had to provide tutors; but that is the kind of commitment that was shown by them and I would only hope and pray that that commitment can be exhibited by all of our members, footballers and officials.”
Klass believes that Guyana is more equipped to go forward given the fact that a number of the players who played in Mexico are available for the Women’s Under-20 competition which begins next year.
The Technical Director, Mark Rodrigues and his staff were also complemented for their outstanding work.
Golden Jaguars – JP Rodrigues out, Colin Nelson and Kestor Jacobs drafted in
The locally based ‘Golden Jaguars’ were scheduled to be encamped from last evening ahead of the Digicel Caribbean Cup 8-team finals set for Martinique from Friday.
A number of players will be drafted into the squad according to Head Coach Wayne Dover who also disclosed that leading defender/midfielder John Rodrigues, who is also vice-captain, will not be available due to prior commitments for an indoor competition.
Under-20 Captain Colin Nelson who had a good tournament last October/November when Guyana won the inaugural Suriname Independence tournament will be recalled for senior duties along with Kester Jacobs.
England based Jake Newton who is fully recovered from injury has been recalled at the expense of GDF’s Eusi Phillips.
Dover noted that despite the loss of Rodrigues who plays with Miami FC, the team has to move on. He acknowledged that the energetic player is one of his main strengths but they [team] will be focused.  Rodrigues had missed the first game in the Suriname leg (Group C) of the DCC against St. Lucia which Guyana won 1-0 as well as their second round (Group F) match against Haiti which ended 0-0.
The top four teams at the DCC will automatically qualify for the Gold Cup finals next year in the United States.
Guyana has been drawn in group I along with Guadeloupe, Jamaica and Antigua & Barbuda. Commenting on the friendly international against Guatemala in Kennesaw, Atlanta on November 17, Klass said the game was primarily used to expose a few new and young players. The game was Guyana’s first in the USA after 23 years.
“I think it was a wonderful experience, both the technical staff and the GFF have been further enhanced by this exposure – the kind of treatment that we received – it was clear to us that the team’s performance and the whole developmental thrust, is on an upward swing.”
The Guyana based players who were termed ‘Ambassadors’ were complimented by the GFF for returning, “They must be commended”, Klass stated.
He made reference to the 1987 fiasco where a number of players’ in transit through the USA absconded.   The positive behavior of the players on and off the field of play was highly praised by the GFF head. “It was a group that served us well and we as a Federation extended these sentiments to the players and staff via letter.”
Administrative Development
The GFF commenced their final training programme for the year on Monday at the Georgetown Club, a club management programme being conducted by FIFA. For the year a number of training programmes have been held locally while a number of persons have also been exposed to training overseas. Among the persons exposed to training were coaches, referees and administrators.
“There has never been so much attention on training and development at any other time in our history. It is the first time both home and abroad.”
The focus Klass said is to return to solid club structures around Guyana. About 30 persons are attending the programme at Georgetown Club which will conclude on Friday. They have been drawn from the super league teams and all the associations.
“We are trusting that out of this we will find a definite turn around in terms of how these clubs are run, which will impact of the associations and the federation as a whole.”
Under-17’s
Guyana will take on host county Dominican Republic in their first game of the CONCACAF World Under-17 qualification campaign, second round, group F at the San Cristobal, Dominican Republic on December 8.
The ‘Junior Jaguars’ will next oppose Haiti two days later with their final game of the group against Barbados on December 12.
The Under-20 team will also be in action but the dates and opponents are not yet known, Klass positing that this year has been the busiest for the GFF since its formation as they have participated in every age group, senior and women competition underlining the hectic nature of the year.
Under-20’s
Having finished as the runner-up team to group winners Jamaica in Group C of the CONCACAF qualifying competition which took place at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, October last, Guyana in their quest to advance to the CONCACAF finals next year in Jamaica will compete in the next phase when they will take on the second place teams from the other groups.
Klass informed that the GFF has indicated in writing that Guyana is prepared to host this round of qualifying.
New GFF constitution adapted based on FIFA review
For quite a number of years the issue of constitutional reform has been having the attention of the World governing body FIFA.
Guyana’s has been gaining the attention of FIFA ever since 2007 and recently two officials of the GFF attended a meeting in Miami with FIFA’s legal department where document was reviewed and the draft approved.
This document Klass informed was circulated to all the Federation’s constituents and on Sunday last, the General Council met and passed the new constitution.
“This document will now be returned to FIFA which it will be signed off finally and returned to us.”
The constitutions of all the affiliates of the GFF will now have to be amended and adjusted wherever necessary.

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