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Despite their important assignment GFF still awaits clearance to train for World Cup
Kaieteur News – Members of the football fraternity are wondering whether they are being taken for granted or is there some form of oversight on the part of the National COVID-19 Task Force in granting the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) permission to start training for their very important assignment, FIFA World Cup Qualification.
Regional Governing Football Body, CONCACAF, has released their qualifying schedule and Guyana has been drawn in a powerful group (F) and are up against Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Puerto Rico and Bahamas. It would have been hoped that with the granting of permission for some sporting events to be staged, the scheduled training and proper preparation of the national team would have taken precedence for the players to start training under the relevant COVID protocols.
The GFF just recently named their own task force to handle putting systems in place for local football and also training to get underway in a timely fashion. The GFF is hoping that Guyana can break the preverbal ceiling of qualifying for the World Cup for the first time in the country’s history.
Kaieteur Sport reached out to President of the GFF, Wayne Forde, and asked if they have received any word from the National COVID Task Force on the start of training for the players and how plans are going for the intense programme needed if Guyana are to make it to the pinnacle. Forde informed that they did write the Task Force since mid November but to date no word on permission being granted for proper preparation of the national footballers to commence.
Kaieteur Sport asked the GFF President: With Concacaf releasing the official schedule for the FIFA 2022 World Cup qualifier, how are the plans for the National team preparation coming along?
The GFF President Wayne Forde responded: “On the positive side of things, most of our International players are back on the pitch in their respective leagues. In the UK in particular, football at the professional level has returned albeit without fans and under very strict COVID 19 protocols.
On the negative side of things, our local national team players have not been able to commence training as yet. We submitted a detailed plan to the National COVID 19 Task Force on November 19th and is awaiting their approval to begin the preparation of the players. While we understand that these things take time to properly evaluate, it is frustrating to see other disciplines being allowed to play competition and the National Football Team has been in waiting for almost three weeks for clearance to train.”
Kaieteur Sport further queried: What is the alternative if the GFF is not granted approval to prepare the local players?
Forde noted: “This would be left up to the Head Coach along with his Technical Team to decide on the final composition of the Team. We intend to advance as far as possible in the 2022 qualification campaign. The Golden Jaguars will open their campaign against Trinidad, who has been in training for almost two months now. This places Guyana at a severe disadvantage.”
Kaieteur Sport asked: How confident are you that despite these challenges Guyana will do well at the FIFA qualifier and the Gold Cup.
Forde stated: “I believe my administration have proven over the years that there is no challenge or circumstance we cannot overcome. We will put together the strongest team possible that is capable of competing with the best in the Region. I believe all of Guyana will be proud of the performance of the “GUYANA” Golden Jaguars.”
It is hoped that at soonest the relevant authorities can put the necessary systems in place and grant the necessary permission for the local players to prepare for their World Cup qualifying campaign even as many national federations around the regional and world in full preparation flow.
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