Latest update December 4th, 2024 2:40 AM
SMNT Head Coach Máximo confident Guyana can win Group F
By Franklin Wilson
GFF SMNT Head Coach Maximo and Assistant Wilson Toledo plotting the way forward.
Following the Draw for the First Round of Concacaf World Cup Qualifying for Qatar 2022 on Wednesday last at the FIFA Headquarters in Zurich where Guyana was drawn in Group F, Head Coach of the Senior Men’s National Team Márcio Máximo has revealed that he is very optimistic the ‘Golden Jaguars’ can roar through the group and book a place in the next round.
The other nations drawn in this group are Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Puerto Rico and the Bahamas. Guyana’s first match, all things being equal given the ongoing battle with the covid-19 pandemic curtailing sports in a major way, would be on Thursday October 8th away to Trinidad and Tobago.
Flashback! Unity is strength! Senior and Under-20 ‘Golden Jaguars’ and Technical Teams listening to Head Coach Márcio Máximo and Wayne Dover following a training session on January 18.
Five days later, here in Guyana, the ‘Golden Jaguars’ is scheduled to welcome the Bahamas.
Máximo, spoke with Kaieteur Sport from his home in Brazil: “About our Concacaf World Cup Qualifying for Qatar 2022, I think that we have chance to qualify in this first round, the group is balanced. It will depend on how the players will be after this interruption. I learned through my career as player also coach that prognosis should be proven in the field; not in theory; also according to the principles of our programme.
Máximo, who some months ago would have mentioned that there would be a balance of players from the international pool as well as the local set up, reiterated the point stating that the Technical staff will continue with the same principles of our programme.
“Balance between the numbers of internationals, export and local players in all competitions will be maintain as well as our level of competitiveness and at the same time we will continue to develop our local football and local players.
That’s why we are here; that’s why Mr. Forde hired us, otherwise we will walk in a circle, going back to the same place. Competitions are episodic but development is forever. We have to work on both fronts. Create and improve our local idols as well with identification with our local fans.”
While a few sports would have re-started and been completed around the developed world, namely, football, cricket, basketball and motor racing among others, the lockdown in Guyana is still in effect for the most part with no sports being able to restart.
Lot’s of training and meeting of the technical minds have been taking place virtually and Máximo revealed that they {Technical Staff} have never stopped working despite the pandemic.
“All our staff stayed in touch. I and Coach Wilson Toledo are still waiting for the airport to reopen in order to return. Once Government gives the approval for sporting activities to resume our local staff will immediately start the training on the field with our guidance until we get there. Also, we are very happy with the signals that the new government gave to us when President Forde met with the new Minister of Sport. For me their support is crucial to our success as well of the private sector.”
“The lockdown affected everyone. We hope that the clubs of our international players will soon return to training and we will the same way with our locals. We will try maximise our time that will be valuable. We would be critical and be a determining factor would be the professionalism of each one in their individual training during this pandemic period. It will make a difference.”
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