Fantastic Goal!

Guyana Football Federa-tion [GFF] President Wayne Forde yesterday disclosed that the entity has sealed developmental partnerships with Denmark’s Football Association and Union of European Football Associations [UEFA], with a Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] slated to be signed in June.

This was revealed at a press conference at the Pegasus Hotel. “Today [yesterday], we had scheduled an important activity for the development of football in Guyana. Today, there was a signing of a MoU between the Guyana Football Federation and the Denmark Football Federation. The only reason why we are not doing that signing today is because President [of the Danish Football Association Jesper] Moller of Denmark, who is also an executive member of UEFA Council, has been called to an emergency meeting with UEFA that is actually taking place in Denmark,” Forde said.

“This partnership centres on every area of football development and as we speak, [CONCACAF Senior Project Manager Howard McIntosh] and I are finalising our discussions on some of the immediate projects that we will be partnering with UEFA. One category of project will be infrastructure; we visited one of the locations that we want to do a massive grassroots development pitch at and we are also discussing some of the specific areas of coaching education that we want to put as the first item on the partnership agenda,” he said.

“The MoU will be signed in June at the FIFA Congress which will be held in Paris between myself and President Moller. I was pleased to receive a phone call from the head of UEFA ASSIST yesterday [Wednesday] indicating to us that while President Moller had to postpone his visit because of the meeting that is taking place in Denmark, he has communicated through her that he would like Guyana to submit the first projects that we will want the support of Denmark,” he added.

“This is all in keeping with the broadening of bilateral relationships with other football countries. We know that Denmark is a well-developed football nation and no doubt, they have a wide array of expertise that they can lend to Guyana as we continue on our path of development,” he added.

Meanwhile, McIntosh said, “We’ve been working closely with the GFF in the relationship with UEFA and Denmark. We are happy to see that it’s reached a point where the agreement will be signed and both Wayne and I will be there to sign the agreement in Paris in the first week of June. That is another step in the right direction because without partnerships, football cannot be successful or reach the optimal level of success that we all would like to see it become.”

McIntosh arrived on local shores on April 3rd for a two-day tour. His objectives centres on assessing the current developmental climate of the discipline, as well as to drum up support among stakeholders ahead of Guyana’s participating in the Gold Cup.

Stability

According to the Jamaican national, “We are very pleased with what has been happening in Guyana, we are pleased with what has been happening under the leadership of President Forde…I have been in Guyana [in] the best of times and the tougher times. I am very happy to see what has been happening with the CONCACAF Nations League and now Guyana qualifying for the Gold Cup. It is an extraordinary opportunity and part of my task is to express that and hopefully convince stakeholders that they should be supportive of the effort.”

McIntosh declared, “I can say, without a fear of contradiction because of my experiences, that this has been the most stable period in terms of football in Guyana, definitely in the last 10 years. That is the period I can speak to. I think that the spirit I detect now should allow for continued stability and CONCACAF is here to support it. I know every time CONCACAF or FIFA comes here, they expect some more money. I didn’t bring a cheque but definitely brought the support and will continue to support the GFF and President Forde in his vision, mission and direction for Guyana’s football.”

The former FIFA Developmental Officer said, “With that stability and with the successes, it means that Guyana’s international reputation and the reputation of the GFF is now at a high. That means the expectations from CONCACAF and the FIFA will be of a high standard as well. That is part of the reason we are here to support that for sure. We are happy to see that the discussions, and I am happy personally to see that many of the discussions now centre on football, the youth programmes, the leagues. President Forde, in every other conversation, he wants to make sure he has the artificial pitch and pitches to ensure the grassroots development programmes be able to take place. We know that the rain situation in Guyana is tough at times, we want to be able to better plan.

“Believe it or not, I know, and we were discussing it yesterday that the artificial pitch at Providence has contributed to many of the things that have happened in Guyana’s football recently. What we need now is more pitches and the hope is that the partnership that now exists, which we are very proud to see between the GFF and the Government, continues and the building of infrastructure continues at a pace that allows better things to come in the football environment,” he said.