Dear Editor,
It’s not my intention to dispute the achievements of Guyana’s Senior National Coach in relation to his successes locally and regionally, or his certification – an English FA’B’ licence, as outlined by Bilaal Eusi Nantambu in a letter published in SN on October 1 captioned ‘Wayne Dover is the most successful coach in Guyana,’ since an individual is entitled to express his own opinion. However, if he cares to he can take the following factors into consideration and respond accordingly, which would enlighten the public about the sad state of local football.
Deryck Whyte, the former Conquerors, Fruta Con-querors and national coach had a sound nursery programme. This had provided the impetus for overall development, wherein equivalent replacements were sourced for the various divisions, beginning with the under-11s and continuing with the under-13s, 15s, 17s, 21s and finally, the seniors. In the process an entire cycle of development was completed.
Within Georgetown, only Gordon Brathwaithe during his stint with Beacon was on par with Whytey, in the latter half of the ’90s, when youth football finals at the GFC used to attract significant crowds.
Fast forward to this current era, when only a few clubs within the capital city continue to place significant emphasis on development, ie, Fruta Conquerors, Camptown Santos, GFC and Pele. All these clubs over the last two years would have participated in all the youth competitions from the under-11s to under-21s.
Incidentally, Alpha’s track record for the corresponding period cannot be equated with that of the other clubs in terms of development. Use Andrew Murray as an example: he was a youngster who was privileged to attend a Digicel-sponsored training academy at Sunderland, England, and was called to a senior national squad a few years ago. However, can Murray find a place in an Alpha senior squad today, much less at the senior national level? By comparison, Elroy Parks, a product of Whytey’s successful youth development played for Guyana at all age levels and even at the senior level. Name a Coach Dover product.
So, can local success be measured by splurging finances to attract the cream of the crop of locally based senior players, while neglecting equivalent replacements for the lower divisions?
Where is the technical support staff after three years, and an equivalent replacement for the late Leslie Holligan? Or a central midfielder assuming playmaker role, in addition to a central defender as a cover for Howard Lowe, who is approaching the twilight of his career. Can the three replacements be sourced from the national under-20, in the absence of a national under-23 squad?
In the final analysis when all the factors are taken into consideration football in Guyana, is still underdeveloped! Nevertheless I wish the senior nationals team the best of success in this year’s Digicel Cup, and let them strive to better the Gordon Brathwaite-coached senior national team’s 4th place achievement in Jamaica in the then Shell Cup many years ago.
Yours faithfully,
Lester Sealey
