Although open to the notion of hosting the FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Puerto Rico in June, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), the local governing body, is yet to receive approval regarding that possibility from the National Covid-19 Taskforce.
This was confirmed in a brief comment by General Secretary Ian Alves. According to Alves, while the June qualifiers are the only items presently on the agenda of the GFF, the federation has not been granted any form of approval from the Task Force owing to the rising COVID-19 cases and resulting deaths.
“The only thing coming up for the GFF is the June qualifiers. We have not gotten approval from the national Covid-19 Task Force to host anything, and they are still holding their position based on the increased cases and deaths. We can’t host anything at the moment until that changes. Hosting of the qualifier, all that is dependent on the COVID-19 status because it will determine what measures we will have to put in place and what regulations we will have to abide by. That is a factor for consideration,” Alves was quoted as saying. Guyana is scheduled to resume their World Cup qualifying campaign on June 4 when they travel to St. Kitts and Nevis.
They will then end their group campaign four days later when they host Puerto Rico. The Golden Jaguars ended the first round of the qualifiers with a record of one win and a loss, following an opening 3-0 loss to Trinidad and Tobago on March 25th, and a 4-0 victory against The Bahamas. Both matches were held in the Dominican Republic. Presently, the Guyanese sit in third place on three points, trailing St. Kitts and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago who possess six and four points respectively. Only the group winner will progress to the second stage of the qualifiers.
Alves also revealed that the regional confederation has requested proposals from several countries on the feasibility of staging matches during this ongoing health crisis. He explained, “Concacaf has asked all the countries who are competing to send their suggestions and proposals on hosting of the matches. They are looking at all the proposals and suggestions and said that they will get back to us soonest on the schedules and the venues. They said soon a decision will be made and I assume that will relatively soon.”
According to Alves, the final date for submission of proposals and recommendations for Concacaf was April 16.
“Concacaf had given a timeline for everyone to submit which was April 16th. The deadline has already passed and that’s why they stated they will get back to us soon, that is what we are waiting on. We are open to hosting the qualifier once and if conditions allow.”
