The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) yesterday distributed several pieces of football equipment to its respective Academy Training Centers (ATCs) at the National Training Centre in Providence, as the entity announced its plan to resume the program.
This was disclosed by an official release from the federation which also stated that the investment falls under the Members Financial Assistance Programme (M-FAP) and provides coaches with the necessary equipment to start training once given the green light by the health authorities. The correspondence added that the federation is investing $18 million in staffing and $12 million in equipment for its ATC program annually.
Each regional program will receive a pair of full size, portable goals, 50 footballs, in excess of 50 training cones and hurdles, four small-sized training goals, 32 bibs, as well as a maintenance, medical, and storage kits.
GFF President Wayne Forde explained, “This is the first step in our return to play plans. Football has been dormant since March 2020 and the entire fraternity has been eager to get back to the pitch. This is the programme that will transform Guyana’s football – we have invested heavily in it in the past and we will continue to do so, but the only way this will work is for the regional associations and the clubs to commit themselves to working within this comprehensive youth development structure, which has been recognised by FIFA as one of the best in the region.”
According to the release, the GFF will require all personnel associated with the nine regional centres to become vaccinated as well undergo regular testing and adherence to the requisite safety protocols.
“The GFF Executive Committee has led the way in being vaccinated, and we continue to lobby all of our members about the importance of being vaccinated. Those efforts will be intensified over the next few months as we set out to ensure the entire football fraternity is fully vaccinated – that is a very important step in ensuring we can get back to playing football,” Forde added.
Similarly, GFF Technical Director Ian Greenwood said, “We are very excited about the academies starting back up again and having the associations being the driving force to ensure that we get the best players from across Guyana into our national teams and also into our competitions calendar.”
He pointed out, “For the youth development programme to be implemented, it has to be regional associations that are the driving force at the community level – they are accountable for the success for the competitions within their region.”
Meanwhile, Youth Development Officer Bryan Joseph informed, “Our role is now going to be monitoring the delivery of sessions, monitoring the coaches to help in their growth and development, and also ensuring the national football philosophy is being delivered at the centres.”
“It’s going to require a huge effort on behalf of the regional associations – with monitoring by the GFF Technical Department – to ensure that, collectively, we get the best out of our players and coaches so that, as we move forward, we will continue to produce elite players for Guyana’s national teams”, he added.
