… appeals for national support

By: Ras Wadada

THE nation’s top Under-17 footballers will get the opportunity of a lifetime when they tour the land of recently-crowned European champions Portugal in two months’ time.At a media briefing held yesterday at the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) to launch the ‘Road to Portugal’, it was disclosed that eighteen players, seven officials and two teachers will comprise the tour party for the October 14 to 23 trip as guests of the ‘We Believe Football Academy’ of Portugal.
President of the GFF, Wayne Forde, told the media that the executive after careful consideration and sound satisfaction decided to accept the invitation to the development programme which will also include teams from North, South and Central America as well as Europe and the Caribbean.
The president also stated that the team will be referred to as the ‘Flour Power National Under-17’, based on a G$30M contractual agreement with NAMILCO over a five-year period for nationwide Under-17 football.
“We feel it is an exceptional opportunity for the GFF as part of its youth development thrust. It is going to be a challenge.
“As it is, the budget stands at around G$22M and I am encouraged by the support we are getting from the parents of the players, and they are going to be part of the fundraising drive that we are going to embark on.
“The GFF will also reach out to our International partners for support, but it’s going to be a challenge worthy of our efforts,” the football boss explained.
Forde reiterated that the GFF will do everything within its power to make the trip a reality and emphasised the need for the entire nation to support the ’Road to Portugal’.
The launch opened with two parents – Nucresia Adonis and Lance Ferreira – appealing to the nation for support of the players and the efforts of the GFF.
GFF’s Technical Development Officer, Lyndon France, in his brief remarks stated that “the cost of the tour cannot compare with the value and what it would do for Guyana’s football”.
“This is a good opportunity to give them further exposure as they are going to be seen by top Portuguese and European coaches,” France added.
Among some of the countries expected to send teams for the 1st Future Under-17 tournament are: El Salvador, Chile, Brazil, Panama, Jamaica, Uruguay, Australia, Bahrain and Bahamas.