ALTHOUGH the Golden Jaguars failed to capture a win at the much talked about World Cup qualifier match against Costa Rica at the Guyana National Stadium on Tuesday evening, President Donald Ramotar remains proud of the team’s achievements and is urging football enthusiasts and Guyanese in general to remain loyal to the team. The visitors sealed a 4-0 win over the local squad; but many including President Ramotar, believe that the mood of the game could have been different, had the referees awarded what appeared to be a goal after the ball ricocheted off the horizontal bar.
Speaking on Tuesday night’s match, among other matters, with Editor- in Chief of the National Communications Network, Michael Gordon during a special interview last evening, President Ramotar shared his thoughts on the highly debated decision to overrule the claim of a goal for the Jaguars.
“I was looking at it from upstairs, and it appeared to me as if they had scored and maybe that probably affected them at the early stage. Maybe if they had gotten that goal they would have been much more fired up,” President Ramotar said.
The Head of State, who joined the thousands of patrons who turned up at the venue with their yellow t-shirts in support of the Jaguars, believed that execution is a critical factor in the success of the team.
“I think they need to sharpen their game in closing off, in scoring the goals,” President Ramotar said.
The performance of the team and the athleticism of the players received the thumbs up from the President, who is confident of a more improved performance.
“I’m sure it’s only a matter of time by which we would start doing much better, in football,” President Ramotar said.
Recognising the important role sports play in the health of individuals and the promotion of a country, President Ramotar said the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has been, and will continue to invest and encourage sports.
He even pointed to the outstanding performance of the national rugby team, locally, regionally and overseas.