It’s my responsibility, says Máximo on T&T defeat as he promises improvement

Mar 27, 2021 Sports

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

By Franklin Wilson in the Dominican Republic, compliments of Secure Innovations & Concepts, Industrial Safety Supplies Inc., Fazia’s Motor Spares and GFF

SMNT Head Coach, Márcio Máximo in discussion with Daniel Wilson before the T&T clash. (Franklin Wilson photo)

The ‘Golden Jaguars’ would be aiming for a much improved performance against Bahamas on Tuesday afternoon. (Franklin Wilson photo)

Captain Sam Cox (right) and fellow ‘Golden Jaguars’ in discussion during a break in the T&T clash on Thursday night, They’ll be seeking a positive result against Bahamas on Tuesday night. (Franklin Wilson photo)

Guyana’s senior men’s national team (SMNT) Head Coach, Brazilian Márcio Máximo is obdurate that the responsibility for the ‘Golden Jaguars’ performance against Trinidad and Tobago in the first match of their Group F campaign of the Concacaf leg of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifying is squarely on his shoulders.
Playing at the Panamericano Stadium, San Cristobal, Dominican Republic on Thursday night last, two early goals within the first 15 minutes and a third on 44 minutes sunk the Guyanese to a 3-0 loss and it was T&T’s first win since 2018.
Despite giving up all three points in that manner, Máximo reminded that the score line doesn’t reflect the way his charges applied themselves acknowledging that the first half did bring to the fore some areas that the team would have to improve upon as the new-style of playing and transition of the team takes shape.
“If you saw the full 90 minutes, the team showed composure, tactical discipline; but sometimes when you make primary mistakes in the crucial times of the games you should pay high price, especially against teams like Trinidad that have experienced players, playing at a high level.”
He believes that the pathway the GFF is on with regards to its development is the correct way.
“It’s my responsibility because I have GFF support, players support and the staff support but it’s my responsibility to do it, nobody else can’t do it and I’m sure we are going the correct way. Of course sometimes you make basic mistakes but it’s part of the process. When we finished the game we had a lot of youth players on the pitch, we don’t have another way to do it to give to them the experience to play.”
The players he posited would be encouraged to learn from their mistakes and grow for the next challenge at hand which would be on Tuesday against the Bahamas here in the Dominican Republic at the Olympico Felix Sanchez Stadium from 15:00hrs. Group F action however will continue on today and tomorrow.
Bahamas will open their account when they host Saint Kitts and Nevis at the Thomas Robinson Stadium from 19:00hrs Sunday, while tomorrow, Puerto Rico will entertain Trinidad and Tobago at the Estadion Centroamericano from 17:00hrs.
Captain Sam Cox in acknowledging the support of all and sundry whilst underlining the importance of the game against T&T, said that the first half performance was not good enough.
“The players are feeling it, we’re disappointed, making critical mistakes in your own defensive box is tough to take but we’ve got Tuesday night to bounce back and we look forward to trying to amend last night’s (Thursday) performance. At the end of the day no words will atone for last night (Thursday).”
Máximo also proffered the view that accepting your mistakes and correcting them is the way to go and that’s the way he’ll be approaching things. Captain Cox also noted that the team’s performance in the midfield would have to improve; they would have to be more ruthless in the attacking third whilst showing more desire in the defensive third.
“So, yes, could we have scored couple more goals, yes, of course we could but, at the end of the day they missed a penalty as well. We have to recognise our own shortcomings and mistakes, we need to be better, all eleven players and the boys coming off the bench know we’ve got to be better going forward. We need to adjust that in the next game and learn from these mistakes.”
The experienced Captain stated that they group is an honest one as no one goes on the pitch to compete with a mindset to lose and doesn’t want to give their best.
“It’s an honest group of players that wants to do the best for Guyana and recognise that they weren’t good enough, we know we need to better. We know we need to make adjustments, we get back on the training pitch tomorrow (today) and try and sort that out. We now look forward to Tuesday night where we try and correct these things.”
Máximo reminded that there are three more matches to play with 9-points at stake. “I would like to talk to the Guyanese people, do not lost your hope, we are going the correct way. Sometimes you are very sad like yesterday (Thursday) because you deserve better luck but it’s part of the game, it’s part of football. Let’s go to see the next game, focus on the next game to recover and come more strong.”

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