Following the resumption of training for the locally based Golden Jaguars contingent for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has marginally increased the travelling allowance of the players to aid in their attendance at the sessions.
This was disclosed by a source close to the federation who spoke on the condition of anonymity. According to the source, the GFF has raised the amount by GY$100 for players from the Georgetown, East Coast and West Demerara environs while the amount for players dwelling in the areas of Berbice and Linden remain the same.
The GFF had initially stated that local players received reimbursement for transportation for training sessions [at the National Training Centre at Providence] during the preparation phase for the opening of two FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, with Georgetown players receiving GY$300 per session, while those from the East Coast Demerara and West Demerara received GY$400 each. Players hailing from Linden and Berbice were reimbursed the sum of GY$3,000.
The source divulged, “The sum has been raised by GY$100 for the Georgetown, East Coast and West Demerara players who are now given GY$400, GY$500 and GY$500 respectively. In terms of any player from Berbice, there is only one and the previous figure of GY$3000 remains. This is also same for any Lindeners although they are no players from the mining town at the moment who are part of the training squad.”
“The increase started since the recommencement of the sessions. After the end of the sessions, the monies are given to the players. Two members of the management team, one of whom is the current team manager, are responsible for giving the monies to the players,” the source further revealed.
Efforts to contact General Secretary Ian Alves and GFF Communications Officer Keeran Williams for a comment proved futile. Calls to their respective cellular phones went unanswered up to press time.
The training sessions are presently being held thrice a week at the federation’s National Training Center in Providence and are currently being conducted by assistant coach Charles ‘Lily’ Pollard, as head tactician and Brazilian native Marcio Maximo is currently out of the jurisdiction.
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 25, and a 4-0 victory against the Bahamians.
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.
The Golden Jaguars local training squad reads: Goalkeepers – Sese Norville, Shawn Adonis, and Ronaldo Blair; Defenders – Rafael Edwards, Jeremy Garrett, Eric Moore, Shemar Fraser, Quincy Adams, Kevin Dundas, Nicolai Andrews, Lionel Holder, and Trevon Lythcoth; Midfielders – Daniel Wilson, Marcus Wilson, Threvon Pluck, Kelsey Benjamin, Delwin Fraser, Pernel Schultz, Ryan Hackett, Trayon Bobb, Omari Glasgow, Dorwin George, Nicholas MacArthur, Darron Niles, and Job Caesar; and Forwards – Sheldon Holden, Osafo Simpson and Leo Lovell.
