Plans well on stream for next Wednesday’s kick-off
VICE-PRESIDENT of the Guyana Football Federation, Franklyn Wilson, said plans are well on stream for Guyana hosting their group of the CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifier tournament which kicks off next Wednesday at the GCC ground, Bourda.
Guyana will host Suriname, Cuba and St Vincent and the Grenadines and will play their first game versus Suriname on March 3.
According to Wilson, the Suriname players are expected to arrive in Guyana on March 1 while St Vincent and the Grenadines will arrive the following day.
He could not confirm a date for Cuba’s arrival, but assured that they are coming for the tournament which concludes on March 7 with the other playing day being March 5.
Cuba will play on the opening day against St Vincent and the Grenadines.
All the matches are being played at the world famous cricket venue GCC ground.
Wilson said the organising committee, which comprises of persons based in Guyana as well as in North America, has been keeping in touch on a daily basis and plans are well on stream.
He said the eight locally based women who were selected to be a part of the squad have been undergoing intensive training twice daily at the Carifesta Sports Complex ground under the watchful eyes of coaches Wayne `Wiggy’ Dover and goalkeeping coach Denzil `Hunky Brains’ Thompson.
According to the GFF’s vice-president, the North America-based players are expected to arrive in Guyana on Sunday morning and will be encamped with the locally based players. The North American players would be accompanied by the team’s Technical Director Mark Rodrigues and manager Colin Baker.
Wilson is optimistic that the local side will go a far way in the tournament, even reaching the finals, since, according to him, there are not many teams in the competition compared with the men’s World Cup.
Earlier this year, GFF’s president Colin Klass had informed that two teams from Group `A’ which Guyana is hosting would advance to the next round.
He had said from the programme he has seen that has been circulated by Rodrigues, it is an intense one.
Klass said he has been assured by Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) Captain Gerry Gouveia that the PSC is on board, not only for the tournament, but also for the sport in general.
Wilson said the overall budget for the Guyana phase is in the vicinity of G$14M.