Dear Editor,
It is rather unbelievable and embarrassing nationally that the president of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Mr. Colin Klass could have told Stabroek Sport in an invited comment: “Even though it was painful to watch the team eliminated, there are many positives that can be drawn from yesterday’s game,” as reported in the Stabroek News of June 23, 2008 under the headline ‘Klass looks on the bright side after dark defeat.’
Sir, the only two positives that were evident were the thousands of patriotic Guyanese who paid a record entrance fee of $1500 to see the Golden Jaguars for 90 minutes, reduced to a domesticated house cat that closed its eyes when the rat was in pursuit of the cheese.
In addition to the high and courteous standards set by the gate management and security personnel, compliments of the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation.
Tactically and technically the Dutch side was two notches above us.
This now brings me to the essential point, which is, “Has the Technical Director submitted his resignation?”
It is totally unacceptable by his choice of words.
“All we have to do now is to try to reconstruct the team as many players may not be with us any longer and what we will do is to try to bring some of the younger players with us to try and groom them and strengthen our existing unit.”
That after two years when Guyana had defeated Suriname by a 5-0 margin in the Digicel Cup.
Reconstructing/rebuilding is an ongoing phase and definitely not when the horse is out of the stable then the door is shut.
Two typical examples come readily to mind the late Leslie Holligan and Rodrigues from USA.
Where are the equitable replacements certainly not Carey Harris for the former!
Suriname has demonstrated the values of reconstructing with Emilio Simon a national U-20 player who attended the one week training camp at Sunderland, compliments of Digicel is now a permanent fixture in his country’s starting XI unlike our Andrew Murray Jnr. who was also at Sunderland but was not called for training with the senior national squad but was invited almost two years ago when he was less matured.
Finally, Sir, almost two years ago the senior national team players had reached the peak of their careers. And almost two years later they have reached their twilight, filled with ageing legs, individual talent in Nigel Codrington and Gregory Richardson and all that is evident is one goal in two matches while conceding three.
What a shame! Where are the positives?
Yours faithfully,
Ingram James
