Brazil ‘Train and Play’ Camp... Encouraging improvements in match against America FC

Brazil ‘Train and Play’ Camp… Encouraging improvements in match against America FC – Head Coach Johnson

Aug 24, 2018 Sports

Kelsey Benjamin in control for Guyana.

Jake Newton leads the attack.

“We didn’t want it to end, we were saying another five, ten minutes; such was our performance, we were in the ascendency, we were pushing forward and pressing. The lads have really taken on board what we’ve been doing over the last eight days against the best team we’ve played to date,” the words of Head Coach of the Golden Jaguars, Michael Johnson.
This was noted as the former Jamaican International recapped the performance of the young squad on their historic “Train and Play” camp in Rio de Janeiro in their third match played against America Football Club (AFC) at their home stadium, Estádio Giulite Coutinho that has a capacity of 16,000.
Despite the match ending 2-1 in favour of AFC, their second goal coming from a penalty in the second half, Johnson and his technical staff complimented the players for the way they performed. The host team took the lead towards the end of the first half but the energetic Guyanese team, which had been matching the AFC team play for play and pressuring them also, got the equalizer minutes later when a cross from Kelsey Benjamin into their area was put into the back of the net by one of the home team defenders. The goal came at the end of a good 10-minute period of domination by the mainly young squad here in Rio, which has a few senior players, including Captain Samuel Cox and Vurlon Mills.
Johnson elaborates more on the game: “It’s not about the results, it just shows how we are improving, how the information is going in and how they are taking it on board and applying it.”

Daniel Wilson on the ball.

He noted that it’s all good taking on board what is being taught but application of the knowledge is vital: “I think today {Monday} what we saw were lots of performances where they were actually grabbing hold of some of the key nuggets that I and Senior Coach Taffazul Islam Rehman have been teaching them about in the week.”
While acknowledging that this is just the beginning of exciting times for Guyana’s football, Johnson pointed out that lots more work have to be done defensively and offensively.
Like what has been done in the previous two matches, all the players here were afforded the opportunity to have match time: “We had a really long, good look at certain players we felt had done really good over the course of the week but the second period when the other players came on, they stepped up; and that’s great, because what you don’t want to see is people moaning or groaning or not showing that passion. They responded in the right and proper way and it gives you another headache going into the final game on Thursday.” It will be played against Bangu Atletico Clube.
The Guyana-based coaches have been integrally involved in running the sessions during the initial days of the camp as it allowed the new tacticians the opportunity to assess and learn the players. The subsequent sessions, led by Head Coach and other members of the technical staff, have been tough but the players have been gradually adapting to the style of play, which was aptly exhibited against America FC.