GUYANA Football Federation (GFF) president Christopher Matthias is of the view that local football has shown much improvement during the last eight months of 2013.

In an exclusive interview with Chronicle Sport, Matthias said since he won the presidency of the Federation in April last year, much has been done to improve the standard of the sport and much more will be done this year.
“We have achieved in some measure as we have started restructuring of the institution administratively, technically, tactically and competition wise,” Matthias stated.
He said the federation has embarked on the establishment of a data base of players, clubs and officials.
According to Matthias, Banks Beer Premier League is a big boost for the association and it has attracted the attention of sponsors who have lauded the GFF administration for what they are doing.
According to the GFF head, players, clubs, associations and even football fans are benefiting more from the sport and he has seen a greater level of discipline being displayed by all stakeholders as well as sharing of information.
“Last but not least, we have started our reduction of indebtedness to our creditors,” Matthias stated, adding “all in all football in Guyana has begun to develop technically, tactically and administratively”.
Matthias said the Federation is in debt to the tune of $40M but that will be cleared off by year end.
The vibrant GFF head said this year the Federation would be targeting the rehabilitation of grounds countrywide and these grounds are the ones that belong to clubs and associations.
Asked how much has been budgeted for the rehabilitation of the grounds, Matthias said the Federation’s development officer Keith O’Jeer has been tasked to come up with a budget which he (Matthias) is to receive today.
This year, Matthias said, is the year for coaches, as there are 108 teams registered in Guyana but regretfully, there are only 25 persons registered with the coaches association “and most regrettable, of the 25, only five are FIFA qualified coaches.”
He said the GFF’s aim is to train trainers who in turn will coach coaches and to this end, the GFF will be writing every club to identify one person to undergo a beginners’ course.
Asked what regional or international competitions the Federation plans on participating in this year, Matthias said there are no immediate plans but what he can say is that an Under-23 squad is to commence training shortly for possible selection on a national team that might engage Barbados, Suriname and French Guiana in friendly matches.
The Under-23 squad, he said, will work towards representing Guyana at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil and added to that, the 2018 World Cup.
The GFF boss stated that Wayne Dover, Brian Joseph, Denzel Thompson, Dwayne Babb, Sheron Abrams and Andrew Hazel have been identified to work with the Under-23 squad.

(By Michael DaSilva)