The overseas-based Guyanese women footballers arrived yesterday and were expected to begin the blending process with the locals’ yesterday afternoon at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ground.
Guyana will take on St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) on Wednesday at the Georgetown Cricket (GCC) Club Ground in the Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
They will also battle arch rivals Suriname in their bid to play at the June 26 – July 17 FIFA Women’s World Cup to be held in Germany in 2011.
SVG is expected to arrive in Guyana tomorrow while Suriname is due in today.
Cuba will not be participating in the qualifiers.
The six local players have been under the watchful eyes of Wayne Dover, current national coach and assistant coach of the women’s team.
Speaking exclusively with this newspaper Dover said that he was very excited to see the fusion of the squad adding that he was sanguine that team can go all the way.
He said that the locals have been very receptive of his teachings and showed vast improvement from the time they have started to now adding that he also believes that overseas arm has a lot to offer.
“Well I’ve had them for like over two weeks and the response has been very satisfying and I think that from tomorrow (today) it would get better,” said Dover.
Asked about his chances going into the two matches given the seriousness of them, the national Sports Commission (NSC) 2008 Coach of the year pointed out that a lot depends on the game brought by the overseas Guyanese, most of whom plays of played at the Collegiate level in the USA and Canada.
“I think these girls coming in will certainly have to take us through you know, I’ve looked at them here and I must say you can boldly that these young ladies are dedicated to the game, they showed a vast degree of fitness, awareness is up to par, so I think once they get going it would be good for us, its just a matter of us now on the coaching staff to make sure they do the right thing out their and we’ll be fine,” Dover mentioned.
Looking at the competition that lies ahead, Dover said that he can only speak for Suriname since they were part of the three way goodwill series organised by the GFF during the Kashif and Shanghai Football tournament last year.
“We played Suriname last year and the overseas team showed how simple is it to get around them, our locals also did well, but the football was more organised on these girls part.
So with blending our best locals with them should only do us some good.
I don’t know much about SVG and Cuba but I think we have what it takes to past them, it’s just a matter of us sticking to the game plan,” Dover said.
The dreadlock coach last year led Guyana to their first International tournament win after playing undefeated in the Suriname Independence Cup and has worked with the national made side during their historic two year unbeaten run that saw them placing 90 in the FIFA World Rankings at that time. But asked by Stabroek Sport to compare working with ladies to that of the men, Dover said that..“It’s always better to work with the Women’s because they are always more receptive. They listen and try their best to do what ever you asked and that makes you feel good as a coach.
But you see, the ladies are more sensitive so you always have to be careful what you say and how you speak to them, but other wise, I enjoy working with them and I’m even more excited to be part of the progamme.”
Meanwhile, the GFF is asking all Guyanese to show patriotism by attending the matches which has an entrance of $500 and children under-12 free.
