FIFA commends GFF on progress, football development as three-day visit concludes

Jan 26, 2020 Sports

FIFA Visits Guyana

“We have to commend President Forde and his administration for the work they have done – the turnaround of Guyana’s football in such a short period – we’ve seen a drastic turnaround…the visit was very successful and we’re happy about its outcome. …,” said Marlon Glean, FIFA’s Regional Development Office Manager, in an exclusive interview at the conclusion of a three-day visit to Guyana.

Marlon Glean, FIFA Regional Development Office Manager, and GFF’s President Wayne Forde speak to a national media representative.

The visit, which began on Wednesday, was aimed at examining the progress of the FIFA-funded projects, discussing new and emerging technical projects for 2020, reviewing the finances and, in particular, ensuring the funding is being used as designated.
The FIFA Regional Manager was high in praise for the work of the GFF: “We’re very impressed with the GFF’s management of the FIFA Forward Funds. We think in terms of their spending, they have done a good job in diversifying the spending. We have projects from infrastructure development to support to the Regional Member Associations to national team and competitions support. So we’re seeing a wide range of projects coming from the GFF. In fact, it is one of the
Associations who utilized all of the funds allocated for the 2016-2020 period. The Federation here has done a god job in terms of ensuring that not only was the money spent but that it was spent in the right places. We have already seen, in the short-term, results coming from the investment – the country’s appearance at the Concacaf Gold Cup and the resulting visibility to
Guyana.”
Glean, along with President Wayne Forde and General Secretary Acting Ian Alves, also paid a courtesy visit to Hon. Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton on Thursday: “We thanked him for his support and the support of his government. We’re grateful for what they have been able to do with the Federation over the last couple of years. We also talked about future partnerships. We know there are issues, from time to time, with the availability of the stadium to host international matches and ensuring that the Federation is given the facility so
they can host international games and accommodate more patrons and, instead of using small pitches for national leagues, they can be comfortably be played in a larger stadium with more support, which can translate into more victories for the national team.” Forde added that an update of the plans in train including the international campaigns for the senior men’s national team, the U17 and U20 Girls and the U20 Boys was also provided.
“I am very excited, based on the technical plans I saw for 2020, about what’s to come for
Guyana’s football especially at the youth level,” Glean added. “The level of competition I saw and the projections in terms of national team participation for 2020, the football academy which will be groomed to grow the national teams… We’re happy to see what’s going on in Guyana, we are happy about the management of football here, the financial operations of the Federation, the player and other opportunities we’re hearing about, the recently-held Congress and the mandate given by the clubs/affiliates (to the Forde-led administration) to manage football in
Guyana for a few more years…the GFF is on the right path, putting the right things in place.”
Accompanying Mr. Glean was Jordan Victoiri, FIFA’s Regional Development office staff member.

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