Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) President Collis Gifth said he feels his association was marginalized as no player under the entity’s umbrella was selected for Guyana’s upcoming international engagement against Barbados.
Speaking exclusively to Stabroek Sports, Gifth said:“We feel disenfranchised and questions will be raised by clubs and players as to why no one from Linden is featured on the national team or was called to trials. We had one player that was on the last team which was Clarence Huggins and we had others that were called to the trials.
“While I have no problem with the foreign-based players, the whole process wasn’t fair and accurate. We have a national coach in Brian Joseph who was recently a part of the national programme and I am not certain why he is not even featured on the technical staff.”
Gifth also wants to know why some of the young players from the last national team were not considered this time around.
“My concern is that we had a young national team and why weren’t those payers reconsidered. Who was the person that did the selection because it’s customary they would be some scouting. However, we noticed none of that in Linden.”
Gifth said that his comments should not be taken as criticism of the team but at the lack of clarity in the selection process.
“I am not criticizing the team selected but we are unaware of the criteria used because what normally happens is that the associations would get notices and they (GFF) would tell you who would be managing the team in advance before the selection process,” he added.
“It is rather unfortunate that 23 players just appeared in the newspapers and the associations are unaware of any prior notices for selection. We haven’t received any notice.
“Other than the press, no form of notification was sent out to the associations as to Guyana’s involvement in friendly match and the selection of the any national team,” he said.
Questioned if the association possesses the players that could warrant a spot on the team, this was Gifth’s take.
“Right now the average age in every one of our clubs is 23. With that in consideration, the age factor fits Linden well and the fact is that we have been performing in most of the junior tournaments including the Digicel, which we have won thrice.
“That is testimony that there is a lot of young talent coming out of Linden that could be of more benefit to the national programme. That in itself leaves questions as to what was the criteria used for selection. “The statistics speak for themselves. This then makes the junior tournaments a waste of time because here are the younger players being given a chance on a stage to display their talents and now is the time for it to go to further fruition and they are not even given consideration.
“This is friendly encounter but I am not sure what the objective of the match is. What form of development can this bring, is it just to say Guyana was involved in friendly encounter?,” he asked.
“The whole makeup leaves lot of questions and we are hoping it would be answered. Regardless the outcome of the matchup, we must identify what was the objective of the game,” he added.
Guyana is scheduled to faceoff with Barbados on January 25 in the Land of the Flying Fish. The members of the initial squad are Goalkeepers Derick Carter (Western Tigers), Akel Clarke (Central FC), Jason Cromwell (Slingerz FC), Defenders Joshua Brown (Slingerz FC), Trevon Lythcott (Fruta Conquerors), Chris Camacho (Alpha United), Adrian Butters (Canada based), Colin Nelson (Slingerz FC), Jamaal Smith (Canada based), Solomon Austin (Western Tigers), Travis Henry (Monedderlust FC), Midfielders Chris Nurse (Ft. Lauderdale Strikers), Clive Nobrega (Slingerz FC), Eusi Phillips (GDF), Tichard Joseph (Slingerz FC), Dwain Jacobs (Alpha United), Keiron Solomon (GFC), Trayon Bobb, Reshawn Sandiford (Sunburst Camptown) and Amos Ramsay (Riddim Squad) and Forwards Sheldon Holder (Alpha United), Pernel Schultz (Caledonia AIA) and Daniel Wilson (Alpha United).
Trinidadian Jamaal Shabazz who is allegedly being tipped to replace incumbent head coach Denzil Thompson, will lead the squad.
The other members of the technical staff are Wayne Dover (Assistant Coach), Vurlon Mills (Trainer), Andrew Hazel (Goalkeeper Coach), Debita Harripersad (Physiotherapist), Faizal Khan (Operations Manager), Trevor Burnett (Equipment Manager) and Mark Xavier (Operation’s Assistant).
