… GFF silent about selection
THE next engagement for the senior national footballers will take place in Atlanta USA, against Central American team Guatemala in just over a week. The Guyanese are fresh from the just concluded Digicel Caribbean Cup semifinal Preliminary Group competition where they finished second to host country T&T and advanced to the finals to be staged in Martinique at the end of the month. According to Head Coach of the national side, Wayne ‘Wiggy’ Dover the game set for next Wednesday will be used to have a look at some other overseas-based players with a view of being selected for the finals of the Digicel Cup.
Dover, however, hinted that the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) is only considering a small selection of local-based players since there is no guarantee for acquiring the necessary U.S. Visa to travel to the States.
The GFF plans to utilise the services of the foreign-based players already in the squad and those with Guyanese ancestry who have indicated an interest in representing the country in International football Guyana.
This stance, according to a reliable source surmounts to profiling of players and as such those who do not fit into the GFF’s scheme of positive profile will not be considered for the U.S. trip.
In a simple explanation the source stated, “Once they feel you don’t stand a chance to get a Visa or they feel you will abscond you will not be considered for selection”.
The source also informed that regular starters, Anthony Abrams and Devon Millington are among the players who the GFF will not take on the U.S. trip.
A select few of local-based players are expected to seek their visas today. Efforts to get details from the General Secretary of the GFF, Noel Adonis, proved unsuccessful. He disclosed that the names of the players will be released to the media tomorrow.
It is understood that English-born Ricky Shakes who came on as a substitute for T&T in a friendly International has now been cleared by FIFA to represent Guyana, the country of his father’s birth.
Shakes, whose mother is Trinidadian, plays midfield and is expected to play next week in Atlanta and be part of the squad for the Digicel finals.