Nat U-15 French Guiana Tour ...Squad of 27 to be reduced to 16 for travel next Friday

Nat U-15 French Guiana Tour …Squad of 27 to be reduced to 16 for travel next Friday

Dec 10, 2016 Sports

By Sean Devers
Under a blue sky yesterday morning at the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue, the 27 Under-15 footballers vying for selection to the national team for the French Guiana tour went through their paces in hot conditions guided their Coaches and the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Technical Director, Englishman, Ian Greenwood.

The GFF recording a goalkeeping drill yesterday morning at the Nat U-15 Camp (Sean Devers photo)

The 31-year-old who is in charge of all levels of local football with an emphasis on developmental programmes, expressed general satisfaction with the Camp which commenced last Sunday and is being used in preparation for a youth tournament in French Guiana next week.
The players should be fairly match-ready since 21 of the 27 have been participating in the NAMALICO Under-17 Intra Association tournament.
Greenwood informed that although the GFF would have liked to take a 21-man squad, the tournament rules only accommodate 16 players who will depart for French Guiana on December 16 following the final selection at the conclusion of the Camp.
This camp also serves to kick-start preparations for CONCACAF U-15 tournament in August 2017. According to Greenwood all of the players are being accommodated at a City Hotel and the same system will be used for all National age-group teams in the future.
There are two sessions per day with morning training from 08:00hrs to 10:00hrs. The players have a break for snacks and fruits before returning to the Hotel for Lunch and rest. The afternoon session is held at the same venue.
When Kaieteur Sport visited the training session yesterday morning it was noticed that Greenwood was enjoying a very good rapport with the young lads hailing from all parts of this Nation, including the interior.
The eager teenagers were involved in ball control and passing drills, while others were playing a match, the Custodians doing ‘Keeping’ drill and players being taught interview skills by GFF PRO Debra Francis in addition to their training being recorded for discussion at the nightly team meetings.
The team will play at least three practice games against U-17 teams before they travel to French Guiana. Francis informed that the NAMALICO tournament has helped in the preparation since four goalkeepers, four defenders, six forwards and seven Midfielders from this squad participated in that competition.
Greenwood said he was satisfied and impressed by the individual skill level of the players but added work has to be done on their ‘match sense’ and playing as a team.
”We have some talented and skilled lads here. The youngest player here played for the U-13 team and is quite good but what we have learned is that the players are not exposed to this type of training at their clubs. They turn up in the afternoons and just warm-up and play mini matches so they are not as fit as they should be and most don’t have the game awareness they need” explained Greenwood, who has been most successful working with youths in England.
”The GFF wants Technical Development Officers in the nine Associations to be talent scouts and keep an eye out for talented youths who could then be added to training camps like this one. In the past players from the hinterland would be invited for one or two trial matches to pick the national teams and then return home. But now we want to monitor them for long periods and that’s where the association TDs can play a bigger role,” Greenwood stated.
Ken Salvador, a talented 14-year-old forward from Rupununi said he was enjoying the Camp but added that has never done so much training and feels he is much fitter now than when they started.
”I live in Rupununi and most important things I have learnt so far are the benefit of training and being fit and improving my ability to finish and score goals. The sun is hot here but everyone is eager to improve and enjoying this camp,” Salvador said.
He added that he loves football and wants to make it a career and one day make the Golden Jaguars side. But for now he hopes to make the final squad for the French Guiana trip and to help Guyana win the competition.
Photo 3:

Photo 4: TD Greenwood enjoyed a good rapport with the youngsters (Sean Devers photo)