The Golden Jaguars preparation for the impending and prestigious FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in March was dealt an unfortunate blow, as a member of the locally based training roster has tested positive for COVID-19.
This was revealed by a source close to the training programme who spoke to Stabroek Sports on the condition of anonymity. According to the source, the player’s positive case was not identified at the Training Centre at Providence by the federation.
This, the source pointed out, was identified at the player’s workplace.
The source disclosed that the player tested positive on Friday which was subsequently relayed to the federation.
Unfortunately, the positive player trained as per normal with the team prior to his positive COVID-19 status, with his last training session occurring on January 28th.
Efforts to contact the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) General Secretary Ian Alves for a comment provided futile.
Calls to his cellular phone went unanswered.
The source also disclosed that the GFF has not conducted another phase of testing on the players and training staff since the inception of training which is in excess of 24 days.
However, they are expected to conduct testing this week in light of the recent episode which could have ramifications for the training programme.
An earlier release from the GFF last month stated that members of the training staff and players were tested for the COVID-19 virus ahead of the resumption of training for the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and CONCACAF Gold Cup.
“The tests, conducted at the GFF National Training Centre in Providence this week, followed the granting of approval for the resumption of national team activities by the National COVID-19 Task Force, which paves the way for the safe and responsible return of competitive domestic and international football. The GFF, supported by medical professionals from the Ministry of Health, tested 32 players who– once given the all clear – will then be free to participate in initial physical evaluations, scheduled for Saturday, January 9th and Sunday, January 10th at the National Training Centre. Once those evaluations are complete, the squad will commence training under strict health and safety protocols. Ten members of the national team backroom staff were also tested.”
The source also suggested that the training programme was not being conducted in a ‘bubble or biologically secure environment’, and as such, the possibility exists given the recent positive disclosure, other members of the programme could be affected.
Guyana is set to open its group-F campaign away to Trinidad’s `Soca Warriors’ on March 25th.
The team is currently training five days per week in preparation for the encounter at the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) National Training Centre in Providence. In their second match, Guyana will host The Bahamas on March 30th.
The Guyanese will travel to St. Kitts and Nevis on June 4th for their third fixture before ending their group round at home on June 8th against Puerto Rico. Only the group winner will progress to the second stage of the qualifiers.
