![Minister of Social Cohesion with responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. George Norton [sitting 3rd from right] posing with members of the Guyana National Women’s U17 and U20 teams as well as the Boys u15 side at the GFF Appreciation Reception](https://s1.stabroeknews.com/images/2019/08/national-teams1.jpg)
The Guyana Football Federation [GFF] held an appreciation reception to recognize the efforts of the National U17 and U20 Women teams as well as the Boys U15 squad at their Dadawana Street, Section ‘K’-Campbellville Headquarters.
The Under-20 side won group-A in the CONCACAF Women’s U20 Championships while U17 side earned their round of 16 berth in the CONCACAF Final Championships following an unbeaten group-D run.
On the other hand, the U15 unit suffered only one loss in their tournament. Delivering the feature address to the teams, Minister of Social Cohesion with responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. George Norton said, “We are sincerely proud of each of you and the way you have performed outside these shores as true ambassadors of Guyana.”
He added, “As the minister responsible for sport, I am truly impressed by each of you and I am further motivated to continue my fight, my struggle, my support to develop and upgrade our country’s sports infrastructure. I’m also quite satisfied by the fact that our national football teams have been attracting increased participation from youths and particularly from the hinterland regions.
“I want to end by saying that Guyana salutes you and we wish you every success as you continue your journey to all that is good.”
Meanwhile, GFF President Wayne Forde stated that the historic accomplishments of the U17 and U20 Women’s teams occurred due to the hard-work and investment of the technical department.
“The youth development programme that was launched way back in early 2016 is still being adjusted from every single corner. We believe that we are on the right path; we now have the evidence to support, we have the indicators that are clear, and we are on the right path. How do we sustain this and how do we repeat it over the next couple of years is going to be the greatest challenge for us.”
He continued, “Could you understand or even think for a second what it would mean for Guyana when you guys qualify for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup? Is there anyone here who doubts that you would qualify for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup? I don’t think so. So we have to keep knocking down goal after goal.”
Forde called for more support from corporate Guyana.
“As a Federation we require a lot more investment from corporate Guyana to really realise the true potential of the nation. I want to thank the Government of Guyana for all the support that they have given to us; there isn’t an occasion that I’ve called on Minister Norton and he hasn’t come through.”
GFF’s Technical Director Ian Greenwood said the teams success was as a result of hard work.
“This has come from hard work from yourselves, from your coaching staff, from your clubs and schools,” he declared.
